Relationships between intensity of deformation induced Cr-Al chemical
zoning and geometrical properties of spinel: An approach applying
machine learning analysis
Abstract
Chemical zoning of minerals, which is commonly caused by incomplete
chemical reaction, is often utilized to study magma cooling processes,
and metamorphic rock reaction paths. Cr-Al chemical zoning of spinel has
been reported as induced by deformation (lattice diffusion). However,
there are no studies that address the correlates of chemical
distribution (intensity) with deformation, and application methods of
the Cr-Al chemical zoning. In this study, we observed differences for
intensities of the Cr-Al chemical zoning with various geometrical
properties of spinel grains within a dunite sample in the Transition
Zone in the Horoman Peridotite Complex in Hokkaido, Japan. Using machine
learning analysis, we present relationships between the intensities of
the Cr-Al zoning and geometrical properties of spinel grains. We examine
connections between the relationships and deformation mechanisms of
spinel and estimate deformation temperature based on the results. As a
consequence, the spinel grains are clustered into three groups based on
the chemical zoning intensity. The intensity is more importantly
affected by grain size than aspect ratio and is much greater with
increasing grain size. These results suggest that lattice diffusion
actively contributes more to total diffusion creep of spinel than grain
boundary diffusion with increasing grain size. The deformation
temperature of spinel is estimated as 1250°C–1100°C by comparing
diffusion flux ratio (Rdiff) and the spinel grains.