Electron microprobe analyses of quenched melts (now glass), chromite, and olivine to determine the role of contamination on chromite crystallization in ultramafic magmas

The data were generated in two labotories of the Dalhousie University in Halifax during a series of experiments to determine the solubility of chromite in komatiite mixed with different crustal contaminants. The experiments were designed to determine the solubility of the mineral chromite in silicate melt, with the dominant variable being the silica and iron content of the melt.

After equilibrating chromite with melt at 1192-1430 degrees Celcius, samples were quenched and the composition of the chromite, quenched melt (now glass), and olivine run-products were measured for major and minor elements by electron microprobe, and the chromium concentration in the glass was measured by laser ablation ICP-MS. Analytical procedures are included in the associated data description file.

The data are provided in a series of Excel worksheets containing five data tables. Table 1 is a summary of the composition of the starting materials used in experiments. Table 2 is a summary of the conditions of temperature, oxygen fugacity, experiment duration and initial sample composition. Table 3 is a summary of the major and minor element composition of the glass measured by electron microprobe and laser ablation ICP-MS. Tables 4 and 5 are summaries of the major and minor element composition of the olivine and chromite, respectively, measured by electron microprobe.