Mineralogy and Petrology (1992) 46:1-22

Mineralogy
an(1
Petrology
© by Springer-Verlag 1992
Printed in Austria

The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica

Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks*
M. J. Le Bas 1, R. W. Le Maitre 2, and A. R. Woolley 3

1University of Leicester, U.K.

2 'Lochiel', Ross, Tasmania (formerly: University of Melbourne, Parkville,
Victoria, Australia)
3British Museum (Natural History), London, U.K.

With 28 Figures

Received July 30, 1991;

accepted October 16, 1991

Summary
This paper describes the reasoning that lies behind the construction of the field
boundaries in the Total Alkali-Silica diagram (TAS) for the chemical classification of
volcanic rocks. It shows that by utilizing nomenclature in common use by petrologists
in combination with a large computer database of geochemical analytical information
derived from the published literature, it was possible to construct a Total Alkali-Silica
diagram for volcanic rocks of only 15 fields, which has straight-line boundaries and
necessitates the definition of only 11 points to construct the diagram. One of the principal
constraints on the positioning of the boundaries between the various named fields was
to minimize the degree of overlap between adjacent fields.

Zusammenfassung
Die chemische Einteilung vulkanischer Gesteine auf der Basis yon Gesamtalkali und SiO2
Diese Arbeit beschreibt die l]berlegungen die zur Konstruktion des Total Alkali-Silica-
Diagramms (TAS) zur chemischen Klassifikation der Vulkanite fiihrten. Es wird
gezeigt, dab dutch die Kombination der gelfiufigen petrographischen Nomenklatur
mit der geochemischen Information einer grossen computerisierten Datensammlung
publizierter Gesteinsanalysen ein Alkali-Kiesels~iurediagramm mit nur 15 Namens-
feldern ftir vulkanische Gesteine konstruiert werden konnte. Die Felder haben gerade
Begrenzungslinien und ben6tigen nur 11 definierte Punkte zur Einteilung. Eine der

* As approved by the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks.

 M. J. Le Bas et al.

wichtigsten Forderungen fiir die Definition der Felderbegrenzungen war es, m6gliche
f2berlappungen auf ein Minimum zu begrenzen.

Introduction

There has been an evolution of rock classification diagrams using the parameters
N a 2 0 + K 2 0 vs. SiO 2 culminating in the Total Alkali-Silica (TAS) scheme shown
in Fig. la, b. It is recommended by the International Union of Geological Sciences
Subcommission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks as the best chemical classifica-
tion for use with volcanic rocks (Le Maitre et al., 1989). When possible, it is
preferable to use mineral modal data to classify volcanic rocks, as is done for
plutonic rocks with the QAPF system (Le Maitre et al., 1989; Streckeisen, 1976), but
this is often not suitable for volcanic rocks owing to their glassy matrix or to their
fine grain size which can make modal analysis difficult.
Although the TAS diagram has been published, there has been only limited
explanation and discussion on the validity of the boundaries chosen (Le Maitre,
1984; Le Bas et al., 1986; Le Maitre et al., 1989). The purpose of this contribution
is to explain how the particular boundaries recommended in the Total Alkali-Silica
classification diagram were chosen by the IUGS Subcommission. An important
contributing factor was the availability of the CLAIR database, which is a Computer
Library of Analysed Igneous Rocks comprising data collected from the published
literature (Le Maitre and Ferguson, 1978), now updated.
The use of the weight percentage S i O 2 in a rock as a parameter for distinguishing
the acid, intermediate, basic and ultrabasic groups of igneous rocks has been
practiced for over a century, but the exact numerical S i O 2 bounding values have
varied from author to author. The IUGS Subcommission therefore decided that the
boundaries needed stabilizing, and at its Cambridge meeting in 1981 agreed by
majority opinion to put the boundaries separating the ultrabasic, basic, intermediate
and acid groups of igneous rocks at 45, 52 and 63 wt% SiO z. Some opinion wanted
these values changed by _ 1, but the differences were considered to be too small to
constitute any real problem.
The combination of SiOz with N a 2 0 + K 2 0 has been considered for many
years as providing the best two chemical parameters for comparing and contrasting
different igneous rocks. Peacock (1931) used them in his classification of igneous
rock series, and Macdonald and Katsura (1964) made the N a 2 0 + K 2 0 vs. SiO 2
diagram famous by applying it to distinguish different Hawaiian basalts. Frolova
and Petrova (1972) drew up the first comprehensive and idealized classification
diagram for volcanic rocks using these parameters (Fig. 2). Rumyantseva (1977)
changed the parameters slightly to (Na20 + 0.7 x K 2 0 ) vs. SiO 2 and produced a
classification with boundaries more controlled by CIPW normative values and
ratios (Fig. 3). The function 0.7 x K 2 0 was used instead of K 2 0 because that
approximated to the molecular equivalent of Na 2 0 but expressed in weight %. The
Subcommission did not think that this gain in precision outweighed the extra
calculation required to make this approximation.
At much the same time, Le Maitre (1976) also used N a 2 0 + KzO and SiOz,
among other parameters, to characterize each of the different igneous rocks in the
first computerized analysis of a large database, and the plots gave an excellent
indication of the amount of scatter that each named rock type might show. Cox et
The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 3

0
+
15

13

11

9 Foidite //
~ ~ / ~
Photlolite

. . . . . y- ~
hyte

Tra~hydacite/
(a)

0 7
g
Z
II / u~lH ~ Daclto
I[ / Basaltic Andeslte Dacite

Basalt andesite ~ \ \

317 L I t 415 I 419 l I 1 I I I ~ I I ~ I I

41 53 57 61 65 69 73 77

I I ~ SiO= wt%
ULTRABASIC 45 BASIC 52 INTERMEDIATE 63 ACID
I , '1
I I

5 ,13.5
13 69,13

~:~ 69,8
+ R

o3
3 - 41,3 4 ,3 02 \

Pc B O1 \\\

h h L ~ _± ' --
3z 4~ 3 z 6~ 6s 69 73 zz
SiO2 wt%

Fig. ]. (a) The Total Alkali-Silica (TAS) diagram for the chemical classification of volcanic
rocks recommended by the lUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of Igneous Rocks,
showing the 17 root-names in the 15 fields. (b) The TAS diagram showing the symbols given
to each field, also the coordinates required to construct it. The larger numbers are coordi-
nates which are exactly defined; the smaller numbers are approximate, being generally
defined by the intersection of two exactly defined lines. The letters O, S and U refer to the
general state of silica saturation: oversaturated, saturated and undersaturated respectively
4 M.J. Le Bas et al.
80

75

Fig. 2. The Total Alkali-Silica diagram for

70
the classification of volcanic rocks by
Frolova and Petrova (1972). Fields are: I
65 rhyolite; 2 subalkaline rhyolite (liparite);
3 comendite; 4 rhyodacite; 5 subalkaline
60 rhyodacite (trachyrhyolite, trachyliparite);
Si02 6 pantellerite; 7 dacite; 8 subalkaline
55
dacite (trachydacite); 9 alkali trachyte; 10
andesitic dacite; 11 trachyte; 12 andesite;
13 subalkaline andesite (trachyandesite,
50
latite); 14 basaltic andesite; 15 subalkaline
basaltic andesite (trachyandesite basalt);
45 16 phonolite; 17 tholeiitic basalt 18
i /7,, "¸¸ subalkaline basalt (trachybasalt, tephrite);
40 / / 19 alkali basalt, leucitophyre; 20 picrite
basalt; 21 subalkaline picrite basalt; 22
nephelinite; 23 meimechite; 24 kimberlite.
[N.B. The term 'subalkaline' as used here
and in Fig. 6, was not used in the sense
30- r - ~ i r- - r - ,
0.00 4.00 8.00 12.00 defined by lddings (1895), and would now
# a 2 0 + K 2 0 (Wt %) be replaced by 'midalkaline']

14-

• ~ •7 ..... ",tt~-." ° . °
,°° /
®• / ". °o°
12' ," ~ / " ,05 "-. "" •. 5% Ne
.." ~ ' / \ °% -.. ">,..oo~o
°° ,o / \ /'/ ,, 4#re/,."o,"
•° ~ 1 h ~" --"a.%" " , , ~tre " " , , 20%Q
o~ 10 - "" ,@~/ %. ~" -.. .'"-~'~1 " - . -%'re "t..
•t" £ ~ % ~. . / "-~/' 4/kez. "'. /. *'.

..- %,o
.,. "~ ./ \'%° ",~..." .~ . / ~ '~,o / "-.. .,,o,,,~%, ..
r.. - .°" ~ ~ ;. . \ ~ ,x~ ,l %_. ~ ,I "- ~ ;

o _ ~ _ .."~ ~°~ X% \ -" ,,~ '--.. ~,0o,o~°

A ° + ~ ~ i c~'°~";;'.,l ..... 25 ~°
d ~ ~ .,-'\ ~: ...... ~o
~- / ~ o \ .-'%+':~ ....
/ .-o-._o- j,., .CLio . • 55
,,~,~:;-\+o, ....

36 40 44 48 52 56 60 64 68 72 76 80
SiO 2 wt%

Fig. 3. The SiOz/(N% O + 0.TK= O) diagram for the classifcation of volcanic rocks by
Rumyantseva (1977). Dotted line--limit of natural compositions; solid lines--normative
marie index (M); bold dashed line--percentage normative An/(An + Ab + Or); fine dashed
line--5% normative acmite; dash-dot line--percentage normative quartz (Q); dash-double
dot line--percentage normative nepheline plus leucite (Ne); dash-stroke line--normative
(ne + lc)100/(ne + lc + or + ab + an) = 60%
The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 5
I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I 1

_ // ~'~. _

14 // \\ phonolites "~/"'- ~
_ / ~ x / "~ _
/ .t-'~ / X / ~.
12
/ _~" / X ./ \\ -

I ,c,°~" / / ,..,o~,,<.i / -benmoreiles \ \~ I \

o m /
,," q" / x,o" _ _ ~ i / x. /
/ ~
\
--

+
l/ @ /" T /rnusearites.~ / / \\ L
. ~ / .,,.~ / ~ / trachyandesiies / x /
/ ~ ./ .~/-- . . . . -/ ../( \ /
( ~ / ~ / hawaiites / / "~" I dacites \ --/
6
~,. , ~ /-------- l-~1 i x,.-
\\1~>1 I~ I ! /I
4 "~ / basalts'" i -=
~ II andesites. I /
X/x ,~,~..£.d IZ I ....--" J"/
salts [_~. I.~./
2f
t l I t i l J I t I l I h t t t I i l
40 50 60 70
SiO 2

Fig. 4. The Total Alkali-Silica diagram giving the nomenclature for the common volcanic
rocks by Cox et al. (1979)

J l , l l J l l l l i , E i 3 ©
5 t0 15

35
Meimecn[te

40
Nephel[nlte
44
Leucltlte

~ e p h r l t e
5O

SiO2
53'5

60
62

7O
Fig. 5. The Total Alkali-Silica
diagram for the classification of
5 10 t5 the principal volcanic rocks by
Na20 + K20 Middlemost (1980)
 M. J. Le Bas et al.

18-

16-

14-
o--t
~ 12-
0
~ 10-

d 8-
+
©
g 6-
Z
4-

2-

O-
35 39 43 47 51 55 59 63 67 71 75 79
Si02 wt%

Fig. 6. The Total Alkali-Silica diagram for the classification of volcanic rocks by Efremova
and Stafeev (1985). Dotted line--limit of natural compositions; dash-stroke vertical lines--
silica boundaries + 1 between ultrabasic, basic, intermediate and acid rocks; solid lines--
enclose area of subalkaline rocks; dashed line--lower boundary of feldspathoid-bearing
alkaline rocks; dash-dot line--lower boundary of non-feldspathoidal alkaline rocks with
Na-pyroxene and amphibole; hachured line--limit of quartz-bearing rocks

al. (1970) used the N a 2 0 + K 2 0 VS. SiO 2 diagram to display the nomenclature of
normal volcanic rocks (i.e. non-potassic ones). That diagram (Fig. 4), although
not intended for use as a scheme for classification, has been sometimes used for
classificatory purposes (e.g. Fisher and Schmineke, 1984). Middlemost (1980) created
a classification and nomenclature of common volcanic rocks also using N a 2 0 +
K 2 0 vs. SiO2 (Fig. 5). His plots allowed overlap of the fields characterizing individu-
al rock types, revealing the reality of the ambiguity in naming rocks. He stated that
the diagram could be "used to describe idealized examples" of each rock type; but
since it does not define boundaries, it cannot be used in a definitive classification.
The USSR Terminological Commission for Igneous Rocks modified earlier
proposals and produced the comprehensive classification shown in Fig. 6 (Andreeva
et al., 1983; Efremova and Stafeev, 1985). Using the same parameters, Na2 O + K 2 0
vs. SiO2, it characterized each volcanic rock by emphasizing the average composi-
tion of each rock type, but the spread of composition of individual rock types was
given in the text accompanying the classificatory diagram. The diagram could not
establish precise boundaries between different rocks, except on a theoretical basis.
This was partly because the rocks themselves usually grade from one rock type into
another without any apparent break, making any choice of boundary difficult, but
also because it was constructed mainly using only well chosen averaged values of
chemical analyses.
The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 7

These difficulties have been overcome by using the CLAIR computer data base
of chemical analyses, created by Le Maitre and Ferguson (1978). This gave the IUGS
Subcommission access to two vital items: 1) a large database of suitable analytical
information on igneous rocks; 2) a computer programme capable of handling,
sorting and processing the data and which, using simple statistics, can reduce the
data to easily understood graphics. The original CLAIR computer database and
package system was enlarged by merging the PETROS database (Mutschler et al.,
1976) with it.
The TAS classification is not suitable for plutonic rocks, because the texture of
most coarse-grained rocks shows that sorting and accumulation of minerals has
often taken place, that adcumulus growth of minerals is common and that, with
slow cooling, migration of pore fluids often happens. All these processes affect
appreciably the bulk chemical composition of the resultant coarse-grained rock,
whereas these processes are minor in the fine-grained and more quickly cooled
volcanic rocks.

The l U G S Total Alkali-Silica Classification

This chemical classification to which the abbreviation TAS (Total Alkali-Silica) is
given, is not the primary, mineralogical classification of volcanic rocks (for which
see Le Maitre et al. 1989), but becomes necessary when modal mineral analysis is
not possible. The seven rules upon which this chemical classification is constructed
are as follows.
1. The chemical parameters used for classification should be taken from whole-rock
chemical analyses of named volcanic rocks.
2. The two best chemical parameters are the total alkalis (Na20 + K 2 0 ) and silica
(SiO2), but others are used in special circumstances (see Le Maitre et al. 1989).
3. Weight percentages of the oxides are used because most analyses are expressed in
that form rather than as cations or moles.
4. Only rock analyses with < 2~o H / O and < 0.5~ CO2 are considered fresh enough
for use. The analyses are recalculated anhydrous to 100~o before use.
5. The boundaries between the rock groups acid, intermediate, basic and ultrabasic
should correspond to the field boundaries between the rock types where possible.
6. All boundaries between fields should be straight lines and these lines should
whenever possible go through whole-number coordinates in order that the diagram
can be easily constructed. The boundary lines should correspond to established
petrological parameters such as the normative percentage of critical minerals. The
boundaries should also conform to the distribution observed for the rock types when
plotted on the total alkali-silica diagram, the distributions being optimized for
minimum overlap.
7. The root names chosen for use in the classification should, as far as possible, be
the same as those in common use by igneous petrologists.
In constructing the TAS chemical classification for volcanic rocks, the principal
source of chemical data has been the CLAIR database which contains over 41,000
different chemical analyses of igneous rocks (Le Maitre, 1982). This database has
five particular advantages: (i).the data collected are worldwide and therefore repre-
sentative; (ii) the database includes the named rock types being considered in the
classification; (iii) the rock names in the database are those supplied by the author
8 M.J. Le Bas et al.

Table 1. List of rock types with percentage frequency distribution plots

Number of analyses Diagram

in CLAIR database

Root name
Basalt (including tholeiite) 7169 Fig. 7
Basaltic andesite 201 Fig. 8
Andesite 2864 Fig. 9
Dacite 727 Fig. 10
Rhyolite (including liparite) 1139 Fig° 11
Trachybasalt 253 Fig. 14
Trachyandesite 338 Fig. 15
Trachyte (including solvsbergite) 827 Fig. 17
Phonolite 444 Fig. 18
Basanite 197 Fig. 19
Tephrite 98 Fig. 20
Sub-root name
Nephelinite 218 Fig. 22
Leucitite (including vesuvite) 112 Fig. 23
Hawaiite 178 Fig. 24
Mugearite 137 Fig. 25
Latite 262 Fig. 27

15164

(that some rocks might have been misnamed, as is evident from the scatter in some
of the plots shown below, happens in relatively few instances); (iv) the chemical data
have all been published and therefore have been considered by editors and referees
to meet acceptable standards of reliability; (v) the database is large and therefore
good for statistical analysis. Removing the plutonic rocks, the altered rocks (i.e. with
> 2 ~ H / O or >0.5}/0 CO2), the un-named and un-listed rocks from the database
reduces it to 15,164 analyses of volcanic rocks (Table 1).
The initial stage in the construction of TAS was to consider the boundaries
between basalts, andesites, dacites and rhyolites. Since basalts are universally con-
sidered to be basic volcanic rocks, andesites to be intermediate, and dacites and
rhyolites to be acid, the boundaries between these rocks were placed at 45, 52 and
63 wt.~ SiO 2 following previous common usage (e.g. Peccerillo and Taylor, 1976).
Further details of the boundaries between these rocks are discussed below with each
individual rock type.
After recalculation of the chemical analysis of each rock type named in Table 1
to 100~ anhydrous, the data were then plotted as percentage frequency distribution
diagrams against the parameters N a / O + K 2 0 vs. SiO2 (Fig. 7 and succeeding
ones), using the CLAIR package plotting routines. The numbers shown on each
plot are the individual percentages of chemical analyses with that rock name in
the database that lie within the 2 ~ intervals of SiO z and the 1~ intervals of
N a 2 0 + K 2 0 . Although the interpretation of the degree of match between the
contours and the recommended TAS boundaries is largely self-evident from the
The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 9

Figures, the data for each rock type are briefly discussed in the order: first, the
basalt-andesite-dacite-rhyolite series; second, rocks of the saturated series (trachy-
basalts, trachyandesites and trachytes); third, the undersaturated alkaline rocks.
This is followed by discussion of the root names which do not appear on Table 1,
and then by an analysis of the plots for the sodic and potassic sub-root names.

The Fields and Their Boundaries

Basalt (Field B)
The field of basalt was defined initially by use of the ultrabasic/basic and basic/
intermediate silica boundaries at 45~o and 52~o respectively and by taking the
maximum content of Na 2 0 + K 2O at 5~. When this was further tested by plotting
all analyses labelled 'basalt' or 'tholeiite' in the CLAIR database, the distribution
shown in Fig. 7 was obtained. It is schematically contoured to show the general
pattern of concentration. The majority, indicated by the 75~o contour (i.e. the area
within which 75~ of all the analyses of that rock type plot), corresponds closely to
the field of basalt as defined above. The distribution does overlap into the adjacent
fields particularly into the field of basaltic andesite. This is not surprising since rocks
labelled 'basaltic' commonly end up being named 'basalt'. The 90~o contour of rocks
labelled 'basalt' or 'tholeiite' overlaps much further into the higher silica and higher
alkalis fields, again into fields commonly labelled 'basaltic'; but Fig. 7 indicates that
few rocks with <45~o SiO2 have been called basalt. The star shown on Fig. 7
indicates the position of the statistical mode of all the basalt analyses plotted (i.e.
the value of SiO2 and of N a 2 0 + K 2 0 for the greatest density of basalt analyses).
It lies well within the TAS boundaries of the basalt field at SiO2 = ca. 50~ and
N a 2 0 + K 2 0 = ca. 3~o. Thus the field B in Fig. la corresponds well with the
frequency distribution plot and therefore was taken as the definitive field of basalt
defined chemically. These simple limits at 45 and 52~ SiO2 and up to 5~
N a 2 0 + K 2 0 of this important rock type are easily committed to memory.
The area labelled 99~ on Fig. 7, which encloses all except a few basalt plus
tholeiite analyses, covers almost half the TAS diagram. It must be assumed that the
nomenclature of the last 1~o was not very carefully applied, particularly those few
with > 60~o SiO2. Basalt is however a very old term and has sometimes been used
sensu lato for any fine-grained, dark coloured volcanic rock, and hence the wide
spread is not too surprising.

Basaltic Andesite (Field 01)

The number of analyses labelled 'basaltic andesite' in CLAIR is very much fewer
than for basalt, and this term has been used advisedly. Most petrologists consider
basaltic andesite to be an intermediate rock, and therefore 52~ should be the lower
limit of the SiO 2 value. Figure 8 also shows that the term basaltic andesite has been
used for rocks up to 60~ SiO2, rocks which most petrologists would call andesite.
Increasing the area to include 90~ of basaltic andesites in the CLAIR database
produces a scatter overlapping into the basalt and basaltic trachyandesite fields, and
Figs. 7 and 14 show these can be disregarded. The reason for choosing the boundary
with andesite at 57~ SiO z is discussed below with Fig. 12.
 10 M.J. Le Bas et al.

8
DESITE

12

lO

o /

d /" 0 r
i
c~ i
z z i
i
4

'o o "" o o o o.-"

I I I I I I I I I 1 i i I I i I I I I I I I l ~ I I I E I I I f I I I I I I I L I I
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77

10
/ DACITE

12 12

o o 3 i o
o~ lO 10
o 1 1 o

o / © // o 1.,,.,'1 1 1'*,, o 1 90%

8 8
/ .// .,1"" '~"....p: o
r
6
i
I c;g~ 6
i o" 1 2

Z
I ° :7
1 ..1." o

4 4

o 1 o o o o
0 0 0 0

I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77

~2 \ /
1t ~ o/ RHYOLITE 14
I 12
o o o...,"1".., o
. . . . . . . . •.. 90%
1O ~,- ~ ~".....o o~ lO ~,- *"°°'" °%.

o \ o
/ o0~; . . . . . . 77i 28
o o i 0

z : o o o~o0~oO
0 ....1 ..,g,."1

I I l I I I I I I ] I I I I I I I I I I I o I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I .
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77

13a ~ , ,4~,
14

12
.~ /;,-';,
• •t I
j

10 10 ,,~ s

O 0
8 2 8
+
0 la ~ n
e
z z
4 4

0 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I } I ] I I I I I I [ I I I I I ] I I I I I I I I I I i [
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77
SiO2 wt% SiO2 wt%
 The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 11

Andesite (Field 02)

Like basalt, andesite is a very broadly used term and hence the spread of data
seen in Fig. 9 is to be expected. Being an intermediate rock, andesites should have
< 63~o SIO2. Considering the main concentration of the data, i.e. within the 75~o
contour, all the data apart from a few overlapping into the dacite field lie within the
various fields of andesitic rocks (basaltic andesite, basaltic trachyandesite and
trachyandesite). This sensu lato use of the term andesite is understandable but now
considered to be incorrect. Also, the rock type basaltic andesite is not always
recognized in studies of the basalt-andesite-dacite-rhyolite series, in which case
potential basaltic andesites m a y be labelled 'andesite'.
Despite the wide use of the term andesite, the peak of the contoured surface, the
statistical mode, lies centrally in the andesite field of TAS on Fig. 9.

Dacite (Field 03)

Dacite is an acid rock and therefore should have > 6 3 ~ SiO2,but the distribution
of dacite analyses in Fig. 10 is seen to extend across the dacite field of TAS,
with major overlaps into the andesite and rhyolite fields. The resolution of this is
discussed below.

Fig. 7. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 7169 named basalts (and tholeiites) in
the CLAIR data file plotted on TAS parameters. The asterisk indicates the peak position of
the distribution. The numbers shown are the percentage figures. The 75~o and 90~ 'contours'
are drawn as a series of straight lines to show that they are not accurately calculated contours,
but merely indicate the areas enclosed by these sum percentages. The 99~o line demonstrates
the wide range of compositions that have been given the name 'basalt' sensu lato. Some of
the zero figures represent single analyses. The TAS boundary selected for basalt corresponds
well with the majority of basalts plotted, allowing for the overlaps

Fig. 8. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 201 basaltic andesites. Symbols as in
Fig. 7

Fig. 9. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 2864 andesites. Symbols as in Fig. 7

Fig. 10. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 727 dacites. Symbols as in Fig. 7

Fig. 11. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 1139 rhyolites (and liparites). Symbols
as in Fig. 7

Fig. 12. The 75~ contours for basalt (B), basaltic andesite (O1), andesite (02), dacite (03) and
rhyolite (R) taken from Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 respectively, showing the overlaps in relation
to the boundaries chosen

Fig. 13. (a) The relation of the 0, 5, 10 and 20~o contours for normative nepheline (standard
deviation = 2-5) to the TAS fields. The data are taken from 15164 analyses for volcanic
rocks in the CLAIR datafile. (b) As (a) but for percentage normative 100(ne + lc + kp)/
(Q + or + ab + an + ne + lc + kp) (std. dev. = 2-20)
 12 M . J . L e B a s et aI.
\

~ lO
14
12

[ / ] / ~ 9 0 %+0.,.-"2.
o
:oO\O
TRACHYBASALT

!
12
15 ~ ~TRACHY ANDESITE

0~ 8 O
8
/ :+'~ 1 47 3d
B 6
z Z
4 4

o I",°............
I I I I I I I I I I I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I i I I I I I I I I I I I I I I t I I I
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77

...................." \ ......................\

14
1°. ;+
+,+
+.':,.
12 12 ' ".,,
!../ T "+
°~ 10 % I" "
+~ .. ~, :.; '...
0 0 / / ...... ./.,.,;'..
/ ; R :
""-

z
+
86 i/// +! . ;:.,.:: , ,..
........
4

fl I I I F I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I f I I I I I I I I [ I I I I I I I I I
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77

18 I 18 0 o...- i...., 90%

17 16
'TE i°0/5 "~'i~ / PHONOLITE

!4

o~ 10
12

0 10
12
°0:} t
/
O
~2 8 /
/
+
c;~ e
0 z
z
4

0 I P [ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I ,,,,;,;,; ............
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 37 41 57 61 65 69 73 77

19 / 20
BASANITE !4 TEPHRiTE

I
12 12 ! ..+ 1 {; 90%

o~,
° 10

0
~ 8 // 90% 0
/ t."'~'""3', 2+ /
B ~,."'3 9 3 "
~ 6 ./ 75%
z i.' + % z
4

I I 1 I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I l I I [ I I I I I I I ] I I I I I I I I I I I I
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77
SiO2 w t % SiO2 w t %
 The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 13

Rhyolite (Field R)
The majority of these rocks, including those with the synonym liparite, lie compactly
within the rhyolite field (Fig. 11) except for a small overlap into the trachyte field.
The tightness of the distribution is surprising when the large number of analyses
plotted is considered.

Division Within and Above the Rock Series Basalt to Rhyolite

Figure 12 shows the 75~ contours plotted in Figs. 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11 superimposed,
and demonstrates the problem of overlap. Vertical boundaries at 45, 52 and 63~
SiO z appear well placed, and the basaltic andesite--andesite boundary must there-
fore also be vertiCal. A boundary at 57~o S i O 2 w a s considered the most suitable
because it divided the fields O 1 and 02 into two nearly equal divisions, and also
because it gave the best balance of the two overlapping contoured plots, remem-
bering the sensu lato use of the term andesite. The value could have been taken at
58 but the Subcommission considered that the basaltic andesite field should not be
larger than the andesite field.
The upper N a 2 0 + K 2 0 limit to the fields of andesite and dacite (the O-S
boundary) was originally placed between the coordinates 52,5 and 68,9 (Le Maitre,
1984), which provided a minimum mutual overlap of the andesite plus dacite data
with that for the trachyandesites and trachytes. But in order to permit the inclusion
of trachydacites in the trachyte field, the line marking the upper Na2 O + K 2O limit
was moved down slightly and now joins coordinates 52,5 and 69,8. The change
was small and hardly affected the consideration of mutual overlaps of the data
mentioned above.
The boundary between dacite and rhyolite was more difficult to place. The
possibility of a fixed silica dividing line at 70~o SiO2 or thereabouts was considered
unsuitable as Fig. 12 shows. Putting an intervening field of rhyodacites was rejected
as being un-necessary although the term is still occasionally used (e.g. Andreeva et

Fig. 14. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 253 trachybasalts. Symbols as in
Fig. 7

Fig. 15. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 338 trachyandesites. Symbols as in
Fig. 7

Fig. 16. (a) The 75~o contours for trachybasalt (S1), trachyandesite ($3), trachyte (T), and
phonolite (Ph), showing the overlaps. (b) (a) combined with Fig. 12 and showing relation to
boundaries chosen

Fig. 17. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 827 trachytes (and solvsbergites).
Symbols as in Fig. 7

Fig. 18. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 444 phonolites. Symbols as in Fig. 7

Fig. 19. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 197 basanites. Symbols as in Fig. 7

Fig. 20. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 98 tephrites. Symbols as in Fig. 7
14 M.J. Le Bas et al.

al. 1983). Such boundary terms between two roots names will always remain a
possibility to be used by some in any classification. In addition to the consideration
given above, the triple junction at S i O / = 69~ and NazO + KzO = 8 was placed
there because it was considered reasonable to put a vertical boundary at SiO2 =
69~ between rhyolite and trachyte (see discussion below), and this line intersected
the O-S boundary at 8~ N a 2 0 + K 2 0 . The dacite-rhyolite boundary was drawn
from this point to SiO2 = 77~ on the abscissa, in part following the frequency
distribution data, and in part because recent analytical work, e.g. that recorded by
Thorpe (1982) for lavas in orogenic belts, shows that some rhyolites have alkali
contents down to ca. 6~o, and lower than those shown on Fig. 11.

Boundary Between the Saturated and Undersaturated Rock Series

The position of the saturated-undersaturated boundary (S-U, using symbols shown
in Fig. lb) and its extension between the fields oftrachyte and phonolite, was critical
to the construction of the remainder of the TAS diagram. The Subcommission
considered it should be a continuous straight line beginning at coordinates 45,5 and
extending between and dividing the fields of trachyte and phonolite. This line should
also be the chemical boundary in terms of increasing total alkalis marking the
beginning of the undersaturated alkaline rocks. Essential nepheline is commonly
taken as the main characteristic of alkaline rocks and this is expressed in the CIPW
norm as > 5~ normative nepheline. Figure 13a shows the position of the contour
of the mean value for 5~ normative nepheline relative to the TAS boundaries. The
contour for the 10~ normative foids in normative QAPF also closely follows this
line (Fig. 13b), and confirms the choice. Thus the boundary S-U beginning at 45,5
was placed through coordinates 61.0,13.5, after checking the suitability of this
position (discussed below) with the frequency distribution plots for the saturated
series of rocks, trachybasalts, trachyandesites and trachytes (Figs. 14, 15 and 17)
and for the alkaline rocks (Figs. 18, 19 and 20).

Boundary Separatin9 Trachyte and Trachyandesite

To maintain the regularity of the TAS classification, this boundary had to terminate
at the point along the O-S boundary at S i O / = 63. Its other end had to be at a
point along the S-U boundary, which also defined the limit of the phonolite field.
Inspection of Fig. 16a, which shows the overlap of the trachyte, phonolite and
trachyandesite fields, indicates that the trachyte-trachyandesite boundary taken to
intersect the S-U boundary at SiO2 = 57.6, was the best choice for separation of the
fields. A line from that point a t S i O 2 = 57.6 which was taken to pass through the
coordinates, 52.5, 14, best delimited the phonolite field. None of these lines is
perpendicular to any others although sometimes they appear to be close to that,
depending on the relative scaling used for the abscissa and ordinate of the diagram.
When the boundary between the trachyte and trachyandesite fields (T-S3)
had been established, the remaining boundaries separating the members of the
trachybasalt-trachyte series of rocks were controlled by the geometry of the diagram.
Thus the SI-S 2 and Sz-S 3 boundaries (see Fig. lb) were drawn parallel to the T-S 3
boundary established above, such that they cut the O-S boundary a t S i O 2 = 52 and
 The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 15

57 so that trachybasalt lies at similar SiO2 values but higher total alkali values than
basalt, and likewise for the fields $2 and $3.

Trachybasalt and Trachyandesite

The term trachybasalt has not previously been rigorously defined and therefore the
distribution of the trachybasalt analyses (Fig. 14) is fairly scattered. Therefore,
further attention had to be given to the neighbouring fields before the final position
of the limits to the trachybasalt field could be concluded. A major constraint was
that the two bounding values for increasing (Na2 O + K2 O) had to begin at coordi-
nates 45,5 and 52,5 previously defined. Its particular triangular shape was inevitable
given the constraints described above, but the name embodies the logic of its
relationship to basalt.
That trachybasalt data spread into the adjacent basaltic trachyandesite field is
not surprising, and is for much the same reasons as the spread of basalt analytical
data into the basaltic andesite field. The overlap into the more alkaline fields
results from the former interpretation of the term "trachy" by some authors (e.g.
Rosenbusch) who implied high alkalinity, whereas others such as Michel-Levy and
most modern petrologists mean higher silica as well as higher alkali content.
The field basaltic trachyandesite has only recently been introduced (Le Bas et
al., 1986). Before that, the fields basaltic trachyandesite and trachyandesite were
considered as one, and both with the name trachyandesite (Le Maitre, 1984). This
is the interpretation that must be given to the data stored in the CLAIR database.
Since the trachybasalt--basaltic trachyandesite--trachyandesite boundaries are
constructed parallel to the trachyandesite--trachyte boundary as described above,
this causes the trachyandesite data plotted on Fig. 15, now to be split into the two
fields basaltic trachyandesite and trachyandesite. The distribution of these fields
relative to the O-series rocks is summarized in Fig. 16b. The peak of the trachy-
andesite data lies appropriately in the middle of the newly defined trachyandesite
field (Fig. 15).

Trachyte (Field T)
Figure 17 is a plot of trachyte plus solvsbergite. Solvsbergite is a dyke rock variety
of trachyte enriched in sodic mafic minerals. The contoured CLAIR data fit the TAS
boundaries rather well, apart from a gap at the bottom of the trachyte field. In order
to fill this gap, and to acknowledge that in the QAPF classification the fields of
dacite and trachyte are not contiguous, a rock termed trachydacite was proposed
(Le Bas et al., 1986). It partly replaced rocks formerly called latites and quartz
latites which plotted in a wide band across the trachyandesite and trachyte fields
(see latite discussion below).
It was considered inappropriate to draw a boundary line between trachyte and
trachydacite on the TAS diagram because it was possible for both rocks to occupy
the same position. Mineralogically and by reference to the QAPF classification (Le
Maitre et al., 1989), a trachydacite should contain more quartz and plagioclase, and
less alkali feldspar than a trachyte. In order to make a distinction which corre-
sponded to that defined modally by the QAPF classification, a limit was set at 20~o
Q in QAPF. Since these are usually leucocratic rocks, the 20~ Q is close to the limit
16 M.J. Le Bas et al.

of 20~o CIPW normative quartz. Thus, if only chemical data are available, then the
criterion for a rock plotting in field T, is as follows. If the percentage normative
quartz in total normative quartz + alkali feldspar + plagioclase is greater than 20
percent, then that rock is a trachydacite. If it is less than 20 percent then it is a
trachyte.

Phonolite (Field Ph)

The boundaries to this field, shown in Fig. 18, have been discussed above. The
overlap of the phonolite data into the trachyte field is noteworthy, but the S-U
boundary is well established and therefore is taken as definitive for that side of the
phonolite field in TAS. Considering how well mineralogically characterized most
phonolites are, it is surprising to find that a few rocks with SiO 2 values down to
41~ (Fig. 18) should have been mistakenly called phonolite.

Basanite and Tephrite (Field U1)

The term basanite has not been used as often as it might be and, as was seen with
the basalt plot (Fig. 7), it seems that many basanites have been included in basalt
sensu lato. When used, the term basanite evidently was used carefully and precisely.
The Total Alkali-Silica classification boundaries correspond well to the plot in Fig.
19, although there is some overlap into the basalt and trachybasalt fields. The lower
limit at ( N a 2 0 + K 2 0 ) = 3~ and the 41~ SiO 2 boundary fit the data well.
Even fewer rocks are named 'tephrite' in the CLAIR database. The difference
between basanite and tephrite depends on the olivine content: basanite has > 10~
CIPW normative olivine whereas tephrite has < 10~, and the Subcommission has
maintained this distinction. On account of this, the Subcommission did not attempt
to distinguish the two by a boundary on the Total Alkali-Silica classification
diagram, preferring to keep the normative distinction based on olivine. In fact, the
frequency distribution plots show a small band of overlap.
The plot of the tephrite data (Fig. 20) shows a wide distribution of the few data,
spanning from field U~ to field U 3 and with no well marked peak. But the data show
a moderate correlation with the S-U boundary limits allowing for some overlap of
the basanite-to-phonolite series. The upper boundary of the tephrite data was taken
from the position of the boundary with field F and, taking into consideration the
basanite data (Fig. 19), that boundary was drawn from coordinates 41.0,7.0 to
52.5,14.0.
The geometry of the TAS diagram (Fig. 1) made it logical that the vertical
boundaries a t S i O 2 -- 52 and 57~ that were extended across the trachybasalt and
trachyandesite fields with change of slope, should further be extended with another
change of slope through the fields of basanite, tephrite and phonolite. The positions
of the U 1 - U 2 and U 2 - U 3 boundaries were then fixed by making them parallel to
the boundary between the phonolite and tephriphonolite fields (Fig. 21).
Since many of the tephrite data plotted in field U2, that field was called
phonotephrite, and the field U 3 in which very few data plot, was called tephri-
phonolite. Phonotephrite and tephriphonolite are new terms coined by the Sub-
commission to replace the more cumbersome terms phonolitic tephrite and tephritic
phonolite which have sometimes been used.
 The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 17

Root Names not Listed on Table 1

These names comprise picrobasalt, basaltic trachyandesite, trachydacite, phono-
tephrite, tephriphonolite and foidite. Most have been used only infrequently in the
past and hence contribute few if any data to the CLAIR database. Therefore it was
not possible to make contoured plots for these terms.
The terms basaltic trachyandesite, trachydacite, phonotephrite and tephri-
phonolite and their boundary limits have been discussed above.

Picrobasalt (Field P c )
This field was named picrobasalt by the Subcommission because these rocks are
normally characterized mineralogically by much olivine and hence have higher than
normal MgO content, but otherwise look similar to basalt. Basalts, however, are
basic rocks with SiO 2 > 45~/o, whereas picrobasalts are ultrabasic and have < 45~
SiO 2, with a lower limit being taken at 41~ SiO2 which corresponds to the lower
SiO2 limit of the basanites (Fig. 1). This maintains the simplicity of the diagram. In
the CLAIR database, there are 148 analyses of 'picrite basalts' and 'picritic basalts'.
They have mean values of SiO2 43.57 (std. dev. 1.14) and (Na20 + K 2 0 ) 1.95 (std.
dev. 0.94) (Le Maitre, 1984). These values correspond well with the boundaries
chosen for the newly defined picrobasalt field.

Foidite (Field F)
Foidite is a term coined by Streekeisen (1965) to denote a volcanic rock rich in
feldspathoids. Fold is an accepted abbreviation of feldspathoid. Being a new term,
there are no data in the CLAIR data base, but under the subroot names of
nephelinite and leucitite there are many, and they are discussed below. The term
nephelinite is used here as a term sensu lato to include olivine nephelinite and
melanephelinite as well as nephelinite itself.
The plot of nephelinitic data from the CLAIR database showed the major
overlap into the basanite plus tephrite field of TAS (Figs. 21, 22). The TAS
parameters are evidently inadequate to distinguish them. Fig. 22 also shows that
the nephelinites sensu lato are bimodal, and the two stars mark the two peaks of
maximum concentrations. The lower (Na20 + K 2O) point is for melanephelinites
(including olivine-rich varieties) and the upper point is for the nephelinites sensu
strieto. The latter contain fewer mafic minerals.
The few leucitite analyses plus vesuvite data in the CLAIR database plot on top
of the nephelinite data and across much of the tephritic and phonotephritic fields
(Figs. 21 and 23). Vesuvite is synonomous with those types of leucitite which
correspond to leucite-rich leucite tephrites. Leucitic rocks are mineralogically char-
acterized by an abundance of leucite phenocrysts and thus, unlike the nephelinitic
rocks in which nepheline is frequently not visible, the leucitic rocks form a petro-
graphically easily recognized but diverse group.
The Total Alkali-Silica classification can be used only to a limited extent to
distinguish leucitites from other foidites satisfactorily. It can however be stated that
rocks plotting in the foidite field of the Total Mkali-Silica classification (Fig. 1) are
certainly foidites or other ultramafic rocks, but that rocks plotting in the field of
overlap cannot be classified using the Total Alkali-Silica classification, and other
18 M.J. L e B a s e t al.

21 \
/ ""''"............~ ~a[

16
22

1 1
1 I

14

12
/
/ ; ..... .
P' _ r..',~- / \ / !
/ ...'" ~

0
~
5~
8
!
, /4 .-"" }'°'/"H_;..~\'i X 2 2 2~ 1~ \ '
8~ e \ ,
z
~ ....7
~1 2"
4 4

I I I I I I I I I I I [ 4 I I I I I I 0 "x -, i ~ , i , , ~ , , ~ ~ i , i

37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77

16
23 ' I

14 ~'/~1 / LEUCITITE
,O°,o ...,1/ \ / HAWAilTE
12 .../...........................
~-~ !2
*~ 10
©
/ ~ 2/ 8 j 75%
+
+ 8
1,..
z 1 :'£5 3".~1
z 6
1z 13 19 7
12 1

,,,,;,,,,, ,,,,,,,,,, I [ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
3"7 41 4 5 57 81 65 69 73 7 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77

25 ~'~1 / MUGEARITE
26
/
12
/
go% 1--1 1 , o~ ~0
10
/ ......
0
8
+
0
~ e
z

I I I P I I I I I ~ I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 7"3 77 37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77

27 ~ LATITE
14

12
9~/~ 0 o 1 0 0
i"'""',
..... ~........................... lO

O
2+ a
0

i / ;,~% .......I......... o \ z
~ 6

4 4 ~0
I
2

I I I I I!l I I ] I I I I t I I I I
0
37 41 45 49 53 57 61 65 69 73 77 ' ' " 441' 5 ' / ' ~ ' "9' " " 3" ' "57
37 61 65 69 73 77
Si02 wt% Si02 wt%
 The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 19

parameters must be employed. Leucitites can be distinguished because they are

potassic rocks, and the criterion K 2 0 > N a 2 0 distinguishes them. As with the
nephelinites, there is a gap between these rocks and phonolite.
The gross overlap of nephelinites into the basanite-tephrite field indicated the
(Na20 + K / O ) and SiO2 parameters are unsuitable for drawing any boundary
between basanite and nephelinite (Fig. 22). The division is instead based on the
CIPW norm, with basanites having > 5~ normative albite and < 20~o normative
nepheline, with melanephelinites (including olivine-rich varieties) having < 5~ nor-
mative albite and < 20~o normative nepheline, and nephelinites sensu stricto having
> 20~ normative nepheline. A full account of the distinction between basanitic and
nephelinitic rocks is given in Le Bas (1989).

Sodic and Potassic Subroots Names

Hawaiite
Hawaiites are by definition trachybasalts for which (Na20-2) > K 2 0 (wt~), The
Total Alkali-Silica classification boundaries include most of the data plotted, but
there is considerable overlap into the basalt field (Fig. 24). Like basanites, many
hawaiites have been called basalts sensu lato which accounts for the spread seen
in Fig. 7. The plot of data in Fig. 24 corresponds well with the Total Alkali-
Silica classification boundaries except for those rich in olivine, for which the
(Na20 + KzO ) content is often <5~o.

Potassic Trachybasalt
There are no data in the CLAIR database for the potassic analogue of hawaiite since
the term potassic trachybasalt was only recently coined by the Subcommission. The

Fig. 21. The 75% contours for basanite (U1), tephrite (U2), phonolite (Ph), leucitite (dotted
area) and nephelinite (dash-dotted area) showing the overlaps

Fig. 22. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 218 nephelinites. Symbols as in Fig. 7

Fig. 23. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 112 leucitites (and vesuvites). Symbols
as in Fig. 7

Fig. 24. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 178 hawaiites. Symbols as in Fig. 7

Fig. 25. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 137 mugearites. Symbols as in Fig. 7

Fig. 26. The 75~o contours for hawaiite (H), mugearite (M), and latite (L), showing the
overlaps

Fig. 27. Percentage frequency distribution diagram for 262 latites. Symbols as in Fig. 7

Fig. 28. The relation of the Differentiation Index (sum of normative Q + or + ab + ne +

lc + kp) contours (std. dev. = 3-7) to the TAS fields. The data are taken from 15164 analyses
for volcanic rocks in the CLAIR datafile
20 M.J. Le Bas et al.

rock name absarokite was considered inappropriate because absarokite specifically

contains olivine phenocrysts. Thus the Subcommission took the decision that rocks
with (Na20-2) < K 2 0 (wt%) falling in the trachybasalt field $1 should be termed
potassic trachybasalt.

Mugearite
Mugearites are, by definition, basaltic trachyandesites for which (Na 20-2) > K 20
(wt%). The relatively few data in the CLAIR database overlap the TAS boundaries
into the hawaiite and trachyandesite fields (Figs. 25 and 26), but the mugearite peak
does lie in the correct field. It was therefore considered a suitable term for rocks
with (Na z 0-2) > K 2 0 that lie in the basaltic trachyandesite field S 2.

Shoshonite
No data are plotted for shoshonite, the potassic variant of basaltic trachyandesites,
because there are too few analyses in the CLAIR database to provide a worthwhile
plot, but the few data nearly all plot in the correct Total Alkali-Silica field. Thus the
Subcommission took the decision that rocks with (Na20-2) < K 2 0 (wt%) falling
in field $2 should be termed shoshonite.

Latite
Since the trachybasalt and basaltic trachyandesite fields could be divided into
sodic and potassic suites, the Subcommission considered it desirable that the
trachyandesite field should similarly be divided: Finding previously named rock
types for these divisions was not easy as there were several names to choose from,
some well defined, some less so. Latite was chosen for the potassic type since that
term is widely quoted, although not always uniformly used, as the spread in Fig. 27
shows. Latite has sometimes been used synonomously with quartz latite which are
rocks intermediate between rhyolite and dacite. However, latites from the type
locality, Latium in Italy, are potassic trachyandesites and thus latite was chosen as
a suitable term for rocks with (Na20-2) < K 2 0 (wt%) which lie in field Sa.

Benmoreite
Very few rocks corresponding to this sodic trachyandesite are contained in the
CLAIR database, but the term benmoreite coined by Tilley and Muir (1964) fits
the requirement ( N a / O - 2 ) > K / O (wt%) well, and plots in field S 3. Therefore
benmoreite was adopted by the Subcommission as the term for the sodic rocks in
field $3.

Conclusions
The reasons for the construction and positioning of the boundaries between the 15
fields in the Total Alkali-Silica chemical classification for volcanic rocks can be
explained and justified, largely by use of the percentage frequency distribution plots
of named volcanic rock analyses taken from the computer database CLAIR of some
 The Construction of the Total Alkali-Silica Chemical Classification of Volcanic Rocks 21

15,000 analyses. The construction of the classification also utilized modal and
normative mineralogical data, and made use of the long established silica classifica-
tion for ultrabasic, basic, intermediate and acid igneous rocks.
The use of the Differentiation Index was at one stage considered, and, while it
was clearly useful for some parts of the classification, it did not fit well with the
established boundaries between the basaltic, andesitic and dacitic rocks (Fig. 28).

Acknowledgements

We wish to acknowledge gratefully the contributions made and the many discussions over
the past decade with the other members of the IUGS Subcommission on the Systematics of
Igneous Rocks and with numerous correspondents, which have culminated with the creation
of the TAS classification. This classification would not have been possible without the use
of Le Maitre's CLAIR computer programmes and geochemical database.

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Authors' addresses: Dr. M. J. Le Bas, Department of Geology, The University, Leicester,

LE1 7RH, U.K.; Dr. R. W. Le Maitre, 'Lochiel', Ross 7209, Tasmania; Dr. A. R. Woolley,
Department of Mineralogy, British Museum (Natural History), Cromwell Road, London
SW7 5BD, U.K.