Abstract
THE hypothesis that ignimbrite sheets are formed as a result of the eruption of a special kind of acid magma, which develops two immiscible liquid fractions on eruption, is strongly defended by Steiner. He rejects the objections raised in my criticism, of his work1, and repeats much of his original argument2. Steiner's hypothesis rests on a fundamentally different interpretation of the textural relationships seen in ignimbrites from that made by the majority of petrologists. Having proved that two contrasting glasses are present as recognizable phases in one ignimbrite, Steiner then assumes that the detailed textural pattern of all ignimbrites can be explained on the basis of this observation. Statistically convincing proof of the assertion that two contrasting phases are present in all ignimbrites is not given, and the volume difficulties inherent in his hypothesis are not considered.
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References
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FITCH, F. Origin of Ignimbrites. Nature 194, 276 (1962). https://doi.org/10.1038/194276a0
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DOI: https://doi.org/10.1038/194276a0
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