Application of the Fractal Dimension Calculation Technique to Determine the Shape of Selected Monchepluton Intrusion Crystals (NE Fennoscandia)

Abstract

Thirty-eight samples of minerals from Paleoproterozoic Layered PGE Intrusion Monchepluton, located in NE Fennoscandia, were tested. An automated computational technique was used which involved counting the sides superimposed on vectorized graphics using separated crystal boundaries. The results were obtained for olivine, orthopyroxene, clinopyroxene, and plagioclase. On this basis, an interpretation of the mineral box fractal dimension was made, along with an interpretation of its nature in the rock in which it was found. The performed calculations were applied to the sampling positions, and maps of changes in fractal dimensions were prepared. The nature of the minerals studied was correlated with the type of rocks present in Monchepluton. Then, the fractal dimensions were scaled to a percentage scale determining the mean value for the euhedral crystal as 100%, and a map was obtained representing the advancement of secondary processes after summing these data for all four investigated minerals. This method was analyzed and its advantages and limitations shown.

Keywords

• fractal dimension
• rock-forming minerals
• Monchepluton
• NE Fennoscandia