New method of semi-automatic modal analyses for phenocrysts of porphyritic rocks based on quantitative digital colour specification technique

Abstract

This paper proposes a new method for modal analyses of centimetric phenocrysts and porphyroblasts using a digital rock image. The dot matrix image of the rock is imported into vectorial draw software as background. The outline of all of the phenocrysts is marked on the overlay by closed vectorial curves and their internal area is painted in black. After this operation, the rock image on the background is deleted and the background is painted in white. The vectorial objects composed of the background and the overlay are exported as a matrix image of BMP format. The percentage of the areas painted in black corresponds to modal abundance of the phenocrysts, and it is calculated by the Wilber colour specification software. This method has high precision in graphic processing. However the translucency of the groundmass causes uncertainness in vectorial phenocryst marking. Therefore, it is recommended for rocks with phenocrysts larger than 5 mm.