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What is the order of crystallization from a magma as it cools from high to low temperature?

1) Olivine
2) Pyroxene
3) Biotite
4) Muscovite
5) Quartz

1 Answer

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Final answer:

The general order of crystallization from a magma as it cools is olivine, pyroxene, amphibole (next in sequence but not listed), biotite, muscovite, and quartz, with feldspar crystallizing early alongside or before these minerals.

Step-by-step explanation:

The order of crystallization from a magma as it cools from high to low temperature generally follows the sequence outlined by Bowen's reaction series. The minerals crystallize in a specific sequence due to the different temperatures at which they are stable. The common order from higher to lower temperatures is:

Olivine, Pyroxene, Amphibole (not listed in the student's question but typically follows pyroxene), Biotite, Muscovite and Quartz

This sequence is an oversimplification, but it gives a general idea of the order in which minerals crystallize as magma cools. Feldspar, which includes orthoclase K-feldspar and plagioclase, generally begins to crystallize with or even before the minerals listed above, depending on the specific type of magma.

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