Clinopyroxene thermobarometry
In petrology, the mineral clinopyroxene is used for temperature and pressure calculations of the magma that produced igneous rock containing this mineral. Clinopyroxene thermobarometry is one of several geothermobarometers. Two things makes this method especially useful: first, clinopyroxene is a common phenocryst in igneous rocks and easy to identify; second, the crystallization of the jadeite component of clinopyroxene implies a growth in molar volume being thus a good indicator of pressure.
The minerals and liquids involved in clinopyroxene thermobarometry are:
- Augite – SiO3
- Diopside – MgCaSi2O6
- Hedenbergite – CaFeSi2O6
- Jadeite – NaSi2O6
