Quantitative textural analysis of igneous rocks

岩石学是地质学的一个分支，研究岩石是如何形成的。最常见的定量方法是使用岩石和矿物的化学和同位素组成。然而，大多数岩石是由晶体组成的，可以定量地检查这些晶体的大小，形状，方向和位置。这种创新的方法在这里被用来探索以铬铁矿和橄榄石为主的火成岩的起源，这两种矿物的密度比它们可能结晶的岩浆要大。其中一个项目将研究铬铁矿的经济矿床是如何在岩浆房的底部形成的，或者可能是在半固体晶体堆中形成的。另一个项目将研究发生在岩浆房顶部的过程，在那里橄榄石晶体被向下生长的凝固前沿所捕获。

Petrology is the branch of geology that deals with how rocks form. The most common quantitative approach uses chemical and isotopic compositions of rocks and minerals. However, most rocks are made of crystals and it is possible to examine quantitatively the size, shape, orientation and position of these crystals. This innovative approach is used here explore the origin of igneous rocks dominated by chromite and olivine, both minerals denser than the magmas from which they may have crystallised. One project will examine how economic deposits of chromite have formed at the base of a magma chamber, or perhaps within a semi-solid crystal pile. The other project will examine the processes that occur at the top of a magma chamber, where olivine crystals are trapped by a downward growing solidification front.