21st Century Petrology: Geochemical Analyses

Geochemical analyses, including such data as major, minor, and trace element analyses of minerals and rocks is used for a variety of tasks, including:

calculating models of melting and differentiation, and
determining plate tectonic setting of origin

The data displayed on the left contrasts two different plateau-type basalts. Note that the B.C. plateau basalts have, on average, higher TiO₂, MgO, and alkalis (K₂O, Na₂O). These chemical characteristics indicate a different origin for the B.C. plateau basalts, probably a smaller percentage of melting of a less depleted source.

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