Bowens Reaction Series Diagram With Questions

Let's delve into the fascinating world of igneous rocks and the processes that govern their formation, focusing on Bowen's Reaction Series. This invaluable tool, developed by Norman L. Bowen in the early 20th century, provides a framework for understanding the order in which minerals crystallize from cooling magma and helps explain the diverse range of igneous rocks we find on Earth.

Introduction to Bowen's Reaction Series

Bowen's Reaction Series is essentially a flowchart that outlines the sequence in which minerals crystallize from a cooling magma. It's based on the principle that minerals with higher melting points crystallize first, followed by those with progressively lower melting points as the magma cools. This process, known as fractional crystallization, results in the formation of different igneous rocks with varying mineral compositions. The series is divided into two branches: the discontinuous series and the continuous series. Understanding these branches is crucial to grasping the overall concept.

The Discontinuous Series

The discontinuous series describes the crystallization of ferromagnesian minerals (minerals rich in iron and magnesium). In this series, as the magma cools, one mineral forms, and then reacts with the remaining magma to form a new, different mineral. This is a step-by-step transformation, hence the term "discontinuous." The sequence is as follows:

Olivine: This is the first mineral to crystallize at high temperatures.
Pyroxene: As the magma cools further, olivine reacts with it to form pyroxene.
Amphibole: Pyroxene, in turn, reacts with the magma to form amphibole.
Biotite Mica: Finally, amphibole reacts with the remaining magma to form biotite mica.

Each mineral in this series has a distinct crystal structure, and the transformation from one to the next involves a change in that structure.

The Continuous Series

The continuous series, on the other hand, describes the crystallization of plagioclase feldspar. In this series, the mineral that crystallizes first (calcium-rich plagioclase) doesn't completely transform into a new mineral as the temperature decreases. Instead, the composition of the plagioclase gradually changes as sodium atoms replace calcium atoms in the crystal structure. Thus, there is a continuous change in composition from:

Calcium-rich plagioclase (Anorthite) at high temperatures to
Sodium-rich plagioclase (Albite) at lower temperatures.

This gradual change in composition reflects the changing chemistry of the remaining magma as different elements are incorporated into the crystallizing minerals.

The End Members

Both the discontinuous and continuous series converge at lower temperatures with the crystallization of the following minerals:

Orthoclase Feldspar (Potassium Feldspar): A common feldspar mineral found in many felsic igneous rocks.
Muscovite Mica: Another type of mica, similar to biotite but with a different chemical composition.
Quartz: The last mineral to crystallize in Bowen's Reaction Series. It is a framework silicate mineral composed of silicon and oxygen.

These minerals, along with the sodium-rich plagioclase, are typically found in the more felsic (silica-rich) igneous rocks.

Understanding the Diagram: A Visual Guide

The Bowen's Reaction Series is often represented as a diagram, which helps visualize the crystallization sequence. The diagram typically shows the discontinuous and continuous series on either side, converging at the bottom with the formation of potassium feldspar, muscovite mica, and quartz.

Temperature: The vertical axis of the diagram represents temperature. Higher temperatures are at the top, indicating the first minerals to crystallize, and lower temperatures are at the bottom.
Mineral Composition: The minerals are arranged according to their crystallization sequence. The discontinuous series is on the left, and the continuous series is on the right.
Arrows: Arrows indicate the reaction relationships between the minerals in the discontinuous series and the gradual change in composition in the continuous series.

By understanding the visual representation of Bowen's Reaction Series, you can quickly determine the expected mineral composition of an igneous rock based on its formation temperature.

Applications of Bowen's Reaction Series

Bowen's Reaction Series is more than just a theoretical concept; it has numerous practical applications in geology and related fields.

Igneous Rock Classification: The series helps classify igneous rocks based on their mineral composition. For example, rocks rich in olivine and pyroxene are typically mafic (rich in magnesium and iron) and formed at high temperatures, while rocks rich in quartz and feldspar are typically felsic (rich in silica) and formed at lower temperatures.
Understanding Magma Evolution: The series provides insights into how magma composition changes during cooling and crystallization. As minerals crystallize and are removed from the magma, the remaining magma becomes enriched in elements that are not incorporated into those minerals.
Mineral Exploration: The series can be used to predict the occurrence of certain minerals in specific geological settings. For example, if a geological setting indicates high-temperature magma activity, it is more likely to find minerals like olivine and pyroxene.
Petrogenesis: The study of the origin and evolution of rocks. Bowen’s Series plays a key role in understanding how different types of igneous rocks form from a common parent magma.

Questions and Answers: Testing Your Understanding

To solidify your understanding of Bowen's Reaction Series, let's consider some common questions and their answers.

Question 1: What is the main principle behind Bowen's Reaction Series?

Answer: The main principle is that minerals crystallize from cooling magma in a specific sequence, based on their melting points. Minerals with higher melting points crystallize first, followed by those with progressively lower melting points.

Question 2: What are the two branches of Bowen's Reaction Series, and how do they differ?

Answer: The two branches are the discontinuous series and the continuous series. The discontinuous series describes the step-by-step transformation of ferromagnesian minerals, while the continuous series describes the gradual change in composition of plagioclase feldspar.

Question 3: Why is the discontinuous series called "discontinuous"?

Answer: It's called discontinuous because each mineral in the series reacts with the magma to form a completely new and different mineral. This is a step-by-step transformation, rather than a gradual change.

Question 4: What minerals are typically found in felsic igneous rocks, according to Bowen's Reaction Series?

Answer: Felsic igneous rocks typically contain quartz, potassium feldspar, muscovite mica, and sodium-rich plagioclase. These are the minerals that crystallize at the lower temperature end of Bowen's Reaction Series.

Question 5: How can Bowen's Reaction Series be used in mineral exploration?

Answer: It can be used to predict the occurrence of certain minerals in specific geological settings based on the expected temperature and magma composition.

Question 6: If a rock contains mostly olivine and pyroxene, would it be considered mafic or felsic?

Answer: Mafic. Olivine and pyroxene are high-temperature minerals, indicative of a mafic composition (rich in magnesium and iron).

Question 7: Explain how fractional crystallization is related to Bowen's Reaction Series.

Answer: Fractional crystallization is the process by which minerals crystallize from a magma and are removed from the remaining liquid. Bowen's Reaction Series describes the order in which this crystallization occurs, leading to changes in the magma composition as different minerals are formed and removed.

Question 8: What happens to the composition of the remaining magma as minerals crystallize according to Bowen's Reaction Series?

Answer: As minerals crystallize and are removed from the magma, the remaining magma becomes enriched in elements that are not incorporated into those minerals. For example, if olivine and pyroxene crystallize, the remaining magma will become enriched in silica, aluminum, and alkali elements.

Question 9: How does the Bowen's Reaction Series explain the diversity of igneous rocks?

Answer: By outlining the sequence in which minerals crystallize from a cooling magma, Bowen's Reaction Series explains how different igneous rocks with varying mineral compositions can form from a common parent magma. The specific minerals that crystallize depend on the temperature and composition of the magma, leading to a wide range of igneous rock types.

Question 10: Can Bowen's Reaction Series be applied to all types of magmas? Why or why not?

Answer: While Bowen's Reaction Series provides a general framework, it is most applicable to magmas of basaltic composition. It may not perfectly predict the crystallization sequence in all magma types, especially those with very unusual compositions or those that undergo significant assimilation of crustal rocks. The presence of water also affects the order in which minerals crystalize and tends to lower the temperature needed for crystalization.

Question 11: How does pressure affect Bowen's Reaction Series?

Answer: While Bowen's Reaction Series primarily focuses on the influence of temperature and magma composition, pressure also plays a role, particularly at greater depths within the Earth. Increased pressure can affect the stability fields of certain minerals, potentially shifting the crystallization sequence. For example, high-pressure conditions can stabilize minerals like garnet at relatively high temperatures, which might not be predicted based solely on the traditional Bowen's Reaction Series.

Question 12: Describe the relationship between Bowen's Reaction Series and the formation of layered intrusions.

Answer: Layered intrusions, such as the Bushveld Complex in South Africa, provide excellent examples of Bowen's Reaction Series in action. These large igneous bodies cool slowly, allowing minerals to crystallize and settle out of the magma in layers based on their density. The sequence of layers often reflects the crystallization order predicted by Bowen's Reaction Series, with early-formed, high-temperature minerals (like olivine and chromite) concentrated in the lower layers, and later-formed, lower-temperature minerals (like plagioclase and pyroxene) found in the upper layers. The process of crystal settling, combined with magma recharge and differentiation, can lead to the formation of complex and economically significant ore deposits within layered intrusions.

Question 13: What is the significance of the "reaction" in Bowen's Reaction Series?

Answer: The term "reaction" in Bowen's Reaction Series refers to the process by which early-formed minerals in the discontinuous series react with the remaining magma to form new, more stable minerals at lower temperatures. For example, olivine reacts with silica in the magma to form pyroxene. This reaction is driven by the tendency of minerals to achieve chemical equilibrium with the surrounding melt as the temperature decreases. If the early-formed minerals are somehow removed from the magma before they have a chance to react, they may be preserved as phenocrysts in the resulting rock, providing valuable clues about the magma's history.

Question 14: How can Bowen's Reaction Series be used to understand the formation of porphyritic textures in igneous rocks?

Answer: Porphyritic textures, characterized by large crystals (phenocrysts) embedded in a fine-grained matrix (groundmass), can be explained in part by Bowen's Reaction Series. The phenocrysts typically represent minerals that crystallized early in the series at depth, under slow-cooling conditions. If the magma is then erupted onto the surface, the remaining liquid cools rapidly, forming the fine-grained groundmass. The phenocrysts are essentially "snapshots" of the magma's earlier crystallization history, while the groundmass reflects the rapid cooling at the surface. By identifying the minerals present as phenocrysts, geologists can infer the conditions under which the magma initially crystallized, as predicted by Bowen's Reaction Series.

Question 15: How does assimilation affect the applicability of Bowen's Reaction Series?

Answer: Assimilation refers to the process where a magma incorporates surrounding country rock. This can significantly alter the composition of the magma and therefore, can affect the applicability of Bowen's Reaction Series. If a magma assimilates a large amount of silica-rich crustal material, it can shift the magma composition towards a more felsic composition. This may cause the crystallization of the rock to deviate from what would normally be expected based on Bowen's Reaction Series for a magma of its original composition.

Question 16: Explain how Bowen's Reaction Series can be applied to understand the formation of granitic rocks.

Answer: Granitic rocks are typically felsic and form at the lower temperature end of Bowen's Reaction Series. The series predicts that as a magma cools and differentiates, it will eventually become enriched in silica, aluminum, and alkali elements, leading to the crystallization of minerals like quartz, potassium feldspar, and sodium-rich plagioclase. These are the main mineral constituents of granite. Therefore, Bowen's Reaction Series helps explain why granites are typically found in continental crust, where magmas have had sufficient time to cool and differentiate.

Question 17: What are some limitations of the Bowen's Reaction Series?

Answer: While Bowen's Reaction Series is a valuable tool, it does have some limitations:

It is a simplified model and does not account for all the factors that can influence mineral crystallization, such as pressure, volatile content, and the presence of other elements.
It is most applicable to magmas of basaltic composition and may not accurately predict the crystallization sequence in all magma types.
It does not account for the possibility of magma mixing or assimilation of crustal rocks, which can significantly alter the magma composition.
The reaction series assumes a closed system, where there is no addition or removal of elements during crystallization, which is not always the case in real-world geological settings.

Question 18: How do volatile components, such as water, affect Bowen's Reaction Series?

Answer: The presence of volatile components, particularly water, can significantly influence the crystallization temperatures and mineral stabilities in magmatic systems. Water generally lowers the melting points of minerals, causing crystallization to occur at lower temperatures than predicted by the "dry" Bowen's Reaction Series. Additionally, water can stabilize certain hydrous minerals, such as amphibole and biotite, at higher temperatures than would otherwise be expected.

Conclusion: Bowen's Enduring Legacy

Bowen's Reaction Series is a cornerstone of igneous petrology, providing a fundamental framework for understanding the crystallization of magma and the formation of igneous rocks. While it is a simplified model, it remains a valuable tool for geologists in classifying rocks, interpreting magma evolution, and exploring for mineral resources. By understanding the principles behind Bowen's Reaction Series, you can gain a deeper appreciation for the complex processes that shape our planet.