Physical properties, morphology and petrological characteristics of pumices from the Central Indian Ocean Basin

Abstract

About 400 pumice clasts collected from the Central Indian Ocean Basin (CIOB) were studied for their morphology and classified based on their shape and size. A majority of the samples range between less than 1 cm and 36 cm and in the Zinggs shape diagram plot in the equant and oblate fields. The Corey Shape Factor for most of the samples is close to 0.7, which is common for volcaniclastic material. The physical properties such as density varied from 0.21 to 0.74 g/cm sup(3), specific gravity 1.84 to 3.27, void ratio 2.21 to 10.67, porosity 67% to 91%, moisture content during sinking 0.44 to 2.35 and degree of saturation varies from 26.5% to 86%. Binocular and electron microscopy studies reveal that 60% of the vesicles are elongated, 30% are spherical and 10% are fibrous. Petrography of the pumices exhibits vitrophyric texture with phenocrysts of feldspars and clinopyroxenes. X-ray diffractrogram and mineral analyses confirm plagioclase to be a major phase, while quartz and orthoclase are not uncommon. Todorokite is commonly present in the ferromanganese oxide coating present over some of the pumices. The controversial origin of the pumices and glass shards in the CIOB is also discussed.