Quartz, primarily composed of silicon dioxide (SiO₂), forms through several geological processes. However, the two key processes that can be associated with the formation of quartz in the context of magmatic differentiation are:
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Fractional Crystallization: This is a process where different minerals crystallize from magma at different temperatures as it cools. As certain minerals crystallize and settle out of the magma, the remaining melt becomes progressively enriched in elements that favor the formation of quartz. For example, as magnesium and iron-rich minerals crystallize and segregate from the melt, the melt becomes more silicic, promoting the formation of quartz.
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Silica Enrichment: As magmatic differentiation progresses, particularly in the context of the cooling of a silica-rich magma (like granite), the concentration of silica increases. This process can lead to the crystallization of quartz from the melt as it evolves and becomes supersaturated in silica.
These processes together contribute to the formation of quartz in magmatic environments. It’s important to note that quartz can also form through other processes, such as during the alteration of rocks or precipitation from hydrothermal fluids, but the two mentioned above are specifically related to magmatic processes.