Heat conduction and advection, mineral reaction, and mass advection were simluated for up to 500,000 years with finite difference approximations. Model runs without heat flow simulated fluid flow along a steady-state temperature profile defined by the maximum temperature attained at each point in the contact aureole after 200,000 years of heat conduction. Results are presented as plots of mineral assemblage as a function of time and distance. A comparison of analytical and numerical solutions that confirms the convergence and accuracy of the numerical model can be viewed here . The results of ten simulations are presented in the following table sorted by fluid flow direction and run attributes.
Temperature is denoted by the white isotherms .
Larger images of each of the maps can be retrieved by clicking on the thumbnails. The mineral assemblage maps for fluid flow during heat flow resemble those for fluid flow along steady-state temperature profiles but they are distorted by the thermal evolution of the contact aureole. Early in the fluid flow event, mineral assemblages are compressed towards the intrusion because the outer aureole is cool. Only after about 100,000 years is the outer aureole heated to the point where prograde assemblages develop. The inner aureole then begins to cool, resulting in retrograde reaction such as the development of brucite after periclase.