Pattern recognition approaches to data interpretation in geochemistry : applications to petrogenesis of basalts and some minerals

Terrestrial rocks can be classified broadly into two groups namely acidic (granites and other related rock types) and basic (basalts and related rock types). Basalts, being directly derived from the earth's mantle and come to the surface through volcanic eruptions, are significant with respect to understanding features like mantle mineralogy, formation of magma through partial melting and magma evolution. The major, minor and trace element composition of the various rock types along with isotopic information of the whole rock and mineral phases are used to unravel the various geochemical processes and the time of formation (age) of given rock mass. The study of basalts has an important bearing in the study of planetary evolution, because the inner planets, including Mars and earth's moon, all have a basaltic composition