Small-scale convection at the interface between stratified layers of mafic and silicic magma, Campbell Ridges, NW Palmer Land, Antarctic Peninsula: Syn-magmatic way-up criteria

• Published in: Journal of Structural Geology
• Main Authors: Vaughan, A.P.M., Thistlewood, L., Millar, I.L.
• Format: Article in Journal/Newspaper
• Language: unknown
• Published: Elsevier 1995
• Subjects: Antarctic; Antarctic Peninsula; Palmer Land; Campbell Ridges; Antarc*
• Online Access: http://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/515879/; https://doi.org/10.1016/0191-8141(95)00010-B

Experimental data suggest that some igneous mafic inclusions are formed at the interface between underlying mafic magma and more silicic magma in a reservoir by a process of gas exsolution and vesiculation. We report cm-scale plume-like structures exposed over several m2 at a candidate interface in a large composite pluton from NW Palmer Land, Antarctic Peninsula and suggest that, as well as representing ‘frozen’ mafic inclusion formation, plume-like structures of this type can be used as way-up criteria and may be of particular value in the interpretation of palaeomagnetic data.