Intro

FORMULA: General-purpose mineral analysis recalculation

Analytical techniques yield a chemical composition expressed in weight percent

oxides. To make use of mineral analyses, however, we need to recalculate them into
some other form. To check the quality of the analysis by examining the
stoichiometry, or to determine the proportions of end members of solid-solution
series, we require cations per formula unit, where the formula unit is specified in
terms of a fixed number of oxygens. If we want to plot assemblage-composition
diagrams, we shall need molar proportions of oxides, but these are easily derived
from the cation proportions.

Follow the column-by-column instructions on the next page to develop your own
spreadsheet application for recalculating weight percents into cations per formula
unit.

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 Working

FORMULA: General-purpose mineral analysis recalculation

In column B, enter oxygens in formula unit, and weight % of each oxide in the analysis
In column C, divide by the molecular weight given in column H, yielding cation
proportions.
Now multiply column C by the number of oxygens associated with each
cation in the oxide (i.e. by half the charge on the cation)
Finally, normalise the cation proportions in column C to the
Oxygens correct oxygen total. The factor is
in formula 24 (oxygens in formula)/(total beneath column D)

Wt % Cation Oxygen Cations Oxide Mol wt Charge

oxide props props p.f.u. name per cation on cation
SiO2 51.73 0.8609 1.7218 7.835 SiO2 60.09 4
TiO2 0.00 0.0000 0.0000 0.000 TiO2 79.9 4
Al2O3 1.51 0.0296 0.0444 0.270 Al2O3 50.97 3
Cr2O3 0.00 0.0000 0.0000 0.000 Cr2O3 76.01 3
Fe2O3 0.00 0.0000 0.0000 0.000 Fe2O3 79.85 3
FeO 23.32 0.3246 0.3246 2.954 FeO 71.85 2
MnO 0.36 0.0051 0.0051 0.046 MnO 70.94 2
MgO 8.69 0.2155 0.2155 1.962 MgO 40.32 2
CaO 11.85 0.2113 0.2113 1.923 CaO 56.08 2
Na2O 0.21 0.0068 0.0034 0.062 Na2O 30.991 1
K2O 0.00 0.0000 0.0000 0.000 K2O 47.1 1
H2O 2.00 0.2220 0.1110 2.021 H2O 9.008 1
Totals 99.67 2.6371 17.071

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