CRYSTAL-CHEMISTRY OF CLINOPYROXENES FROM POTASSIC AND ULTRAPOTASSIC ROCKS IN CENTRAL ITALY - IMPLICATIONS ON THEIR GENESIS

The clinopyroxenes mentioned have been investigated by single crystal X-ray diffraction combined with electron microprobe analysis. The aim of this study was to characterize the crystal-chemical variations of c linopyroxenes in order to delineate the intracrystalline constraints w hich are characteristic of specific magmatic environments. Clinopyroxe nes (cpx) crystallized from peralkaline ultrapotassic melt with kamafu gitic and lamproitic affinities are characterized by high Si contents, which are insensitive to variations in silica abundance and silica sa turation of the melt. The high Si occupancy in clinopyroxenes from kam afugitic magma is coupled to large M1 (i.e. Mg and Fe2+) and M2 (high Ca occupancy) sites, whereas in clinopyroxenes from magmas with lampro itic affinity, high Si content is combined with large M1 but small M2 sites. Clinopyroxenes from Roman-type alkaline potassic and ultrapotas sic rocks are characterized by an expanded tetrahedron (high (IV)Al co ntent) and small M1 site which is combined with small M2 polyhedron in clinopyroxenes from the potassic rocks and large M2 site in those fro m the ultrapotassic rocks.