Magmaaines

Magmaaines are a fictional or hypothetical class of mineral-like phases proposed to occur in high-temperature magmatic systems. The term combines magma with the suffix -aine, and is used in speculative geology to describe aluminosilicate-rich constituents that may crystallize or glassify within silicate melts.

Formation and structure

Magmaaines are described as very small, often micrometric to submicron, crystals or glassy inclusions that could form during rapid cooling or under particular redox conditions in magma conduits. Their proposed composition would be rich in aluminum and alkali elements, with trace amounts of iron and magnesium. The internal structure might range from partially ordered aluminosilicate lattices to amorphous, glass-like states, depending on cooling rate and melt chemistry.

Occurrence and detection

In speculative models, magmaaines would be found as inclusions within basaltic, andesitic, or rhyolitic rocks, or as microlites in volcanic ejecta. Detection relies on high-resolution microscopy, spectroscopic methods such as Raman or X-ray diffraction, and careful petrographic analysis to distinguish them from glass, other minerals, or small crystalline inclusions.

Significance and status

If proven, magmaaines could shed light on melt structure, crystallization kinetics, and differentiation processes in magmas. However, their existence remains controversial in current geology, with some researchers arguing that observed features may be misidentified glass, mineral inclusions, or artifacts of sample preparation. As of now, magmaaines occupy a speculative niche rather than a broadly accepted category.

See also

Silicate minerals, volcanic glass, microlites.