NUMERICAL MODELING OF GROWTH ZONING AT NONSTATIONARY CRYSTALLIZATION OF SOLID SOLUTIONS: METAMORPHIC GARNETS

Abstract

In this paper we consider crystallization of solid solutions and formation of growth zoning in minerals. To ascertain the role of various mechanisms producing zoning we have constructed kinetic models of nonsteady solid solution crystal growth. The equations obtained describe the temporal evolution of the solute and crystal composition. Since these equations are not solvable analytically we have solved them numerically by a fourth-order Runge–Kutta method. On the basis of this solution we can compute the zoning profiles for different crystallization modes and conditions. The constructed models have been used for study of mechanisms of zoning formation in metamorphic garnets. We conclude that the main mechanism of production of growth zoning is fractionation. The role of change of distribution coefficient in equilibrium crystallization is negligible. The modelling of zoning profiles reveals that simple arc-shaped profiles originate from crystallization in a closed system while complicated nonmonotonic profiles appear with crystallization in open systems under fluid flow. The duration of metamorphic garnet crystallization is estimated.