The Later Stages of the Evolution of the Igneous Rocks

work by Bowen

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June 30, 2026

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Norman L. Bowen's work, particularly his 1915 paper The Later Stages of the Evolution of the Igneous Rocks, revolutionized the understanding of how igneous rocks form from magma. He developed "Bowen's reaction series," which illustrates the sequence of mineral crystallization as magma cools.123

This series has two branches:
* Discontinuous series: Minerals like olivine transform into new minerals (pyroxene, amphibole, biotite) as temperature decreases.2
* Continuous series: Plagioclase feldspar changes composition from calcium-rich to sodium-rich as it cools.23

Fractional crystallization, where early-formed minerals are removed, is a key process that allows a basaltic magma to evolve into rocks with minerals found lower in the series, such as granite.2

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Norman L. Bowen
…basis of his critical review The Later Stages of the Evolution of the Igneous Rocks (1915), a paper of such outstanding merit that it established Bowen’s position at the age of 28 as an international figure in petrology.
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…basis of his critical review The Later Stages of the Evolution of the Igneous Rocks (1915), a paper of such outstanding merit that it established Bowen’s position at the age of 28 as an international figure in petrology.
Read More