| Title | Estimation of Magma Temperature Using Zircon Morphology |
|---|---|
| Authors | Hayashi, Masao |
| Year | 1990 |
| Conference | Geothermal Resources Council Transactions |
| Keywords | Exploration; Magma; Heat Source; Volcanics; Geothermometer; Igneous; Otake; Hatchobaru; Japan; Zircon Morphology |
| Abstract | The temperature of magma reservoirs can be estimated according to the morphology of zircon crystals contained in igneous rocks. The prism index (PI) of a crystal is defined as the ratio of the sum of the four (100) widths to the total length of the prism perimeter. Within a temperature range from 600°C to 900°C, the magma temperature is given by T (C) = 300xPI + 600. This geothermometers is particularly useful for zircons from felsic rocks whose magma temperatures are not high. Practical applications to volcanic rocks from the Otake Hatchobaru area in Japan suggest that low temperature magma reservoirs are more effective heat source for geothermal systems than high temperature ones. |