1 Lesson Recap:: 2.1 The QAPF Diagram

ES AHA Moment!
1 Lesson Recap:
• There are 4 types of sedimentary rock (Clastic, Chemical, Biochemical, Or-
ganic) which move in 3 ways (Erosion, Transportation, Deposition), to reach 3
types of depository enviroments (Terrestrial, Marine, Transitional).
• Strata exhibit 6 laws or principles (Superposition, Original Horizontality, Lateral
Continuity, Cross-cutting Relationship, Fossil Succesion, Inclusion), and 3 types
of Unconformity (Disconformity, Nonconformity, Angular Unconformity).
2 Amazing Things:
2.1 The QAPF Diagram
It is without a doubt that there are many rocks that
exist. In the past, when an explorer discovered a
new rock, he would likely declare it a new species
with little regard for how it related to other rocks.
Due to this, it is stated that more than a 1000 rock
types were declared, each with vague and mutiply-
defined definitions. Thus, the International Union of
Geologic Sciences decided to create the QAPF dia-
gram to identify and classify newly found igneous
rocks based on composition.
3 How It Works:
For the QAPF Diagram to work, you need to know
a couple of things: First, you need to know that it
Figure 1: Plutonic QAPF Dia- is a igneous rock. Next, you need to know whether
gram. it’s felsic or mafic– the QAPF diagram only works for
rocks less than 90% mafic.
Lastly, you need to know whether it’s ”Plutonic” (or
instrusive) or ”Volcanic” (or extruded). From there, we
can start using the diagrams.
3.1 Plutonic QAPF Diagram

From here, we need to determine the composition, in
percentages, of 4 minerals: Quartz, Alkali Feldspar,
Plagiocase Feldspar, and Feldspathoids. From there,
we use the ternary graph, see left. To use a ternary
Figure 2: How to use a
graph, you need to find the intersection of the 3 lines,
Ternary Diagram.
each of which correspond to a certain percentage of the
1
4 minerals– see the figure on the next page for more details. It should be noted that
it is impossible for a rock to have both quartz and feldspathoids, as in that case,
the 2 minerals would react to form either the alkali or plagiocase feldspar. Thus, it
really is a combination of 2 diagrams: the QAP diagram and the APF diagram.
There, we can see a number of familiar names. Granite, of countertop fame, is
composed of equal amounts of Quartz and Feldspars. Diorite and Gabbro are both
dense with plagiocase feldspar– the primary difference between them is the level
of Mafic minerals, I think. At the very bottom, you have the feldspathoids– the ”foid”
is to replaced with the primary feldspathoid: e.g., sodalite syenite.
All of these rocks are plutonic in nature– they also
have volcanic counterparts.
3.2 Volcanic QAPF Diagram

The Volcanic QAPF Diagram is very similar to the plu-
tonic one– the lines are drawn at approximately the
same places. To use it, you need a couple more re-
quirements, though. The crystals or ”grains” have to be
large enough for the composition (or ”mineral mode”)
to be determined. The other thing is that it cannot have
any volcanic glass, so obsidian and pumice are not in-
Figure 3: Volcanic QAPF. cluded. Unfortunately, even upon passing those hurdles,
the method is still a little stunted. The diagram on the left hides the fact that a great
number of extruded rocks fall in the basalt-andesite area, which can then only be
determined via its sister graph, the TAS (Total-Alkali-Silica) graph. Regardless of
that, though, it still is quite interesting– you can see the fact that rhyolites and gran-
ites have almost the same composition, as do basalts and gabbros. It really is quite
useful for determining rock composition equivalences.
4 Applications:
The primary application of the QAPF diagram is probably just the determination
of the name and species of a given rock. As previously mentioned, it’s also useful
for comparing rocks, especially given the fact that there are 2 versions: it becomes
quite simple to compare the modes of 2 rocks that are on either graph. Lastly, it
becomes useful in communication. If I wanted to send over a slab of granite to be
molded and become a countertop in a factory, it becomes critically important that
we have the same notion of what ”granite” is so that there are no mishaps in the h
processes that are present in a factory. Similarly, when bringing a rock sample to
investigate, trying to identify it beforehand may give the collector and idea of what
they’re about to recieve (and what price they should pay). All in all, it is an attempt
to bring order to nature’s variation; a good classification, like I hope this is, is able
to help us appreciate Mother Earth more. Thank you!
2
References
Aketch, O. (n.d.). 3.1 qapf classification of igneous rocks. University of Nairobi Multi-
media Portal. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https://learning.uonbi.ac.ke/
courses / SGL301 / scormPackages / path _ 2 / 31 _ qapf _ classification _ of _
igneous_rocks.html
Dietrich, R. (2011, February 16). Plate tectonics. In Britannica. Encyclopædia Britan-
nica. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https : / / www . britannica . com / science /
plate-tectonics
GeologyIn.com. (n.d.). How to use qapf diagram to classify igneous rocks? Geolo-
gyIn.com. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from http://www.geologyin.com/2015/
08/using-qapf-diagram-to-classify-igneous.html
Hudson Institute of Mineralogy. (n.d.). Definition of qapf diagram. In Mindat.org.
Mindat.org. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https://www.mindat.org/glossary/
qapf_diagram
King, H. M. (n.d.). Gabbro. Geology.com. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https : / /
geology.com/rocks/gabbro.shtml
Sepp, S. (n.d.). Qapf diagram. Sandatlas.org. Retrieved March 7, 2021, from https:
//www.sandatlas.org/qapf-diagram/
Wikipedia Contributors. (n.d.-a). Qapf diagram. In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7,
2021, from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/QAPF_diagram?oldformat=true
Wikipedia Contributors. (n.d.-b). Ternary plot. In Wikipedia. Retrieved March 7, 2021,
from https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Ternary_plot?oldformat=true

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ES AHA Moment!

3.1 Plutonic QAPF Diagram

3.2 Volcanic QAPF Diagram

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