GeoNormPy

Reproducible CIPW normative mineralogy for whole-rock geochemistry

Transform major-oxide analyses into auditable normative mineral assemblages, diagnostics and batch-ready tables from Python or the command line.

Important

A CIPW norm is an idealized calculation from whole-rock chemistry. It is not measured modal mineralogy and does not replace petrography, field relations or an appropriate classification diagram such as QAPF.

Workflow at a glance

Major oxides + sample identifiers
              │
              ▼
 Schema validation and iron-speciation handling
              │
              ▼
 Dry normalization ──► sequential CIPW allocation
              │
              ▼
 Normative minerals + mass balance + saturation flags
              │
              ▼
 Python dictionary / pandas table / CSV workflow

Capabilities

Area	Support
Calculation	Sequential CIPW normative mineral allocation
Iron	Total iron as FeOT or explicit FeO and Fe2O3 inputs
Diagnostics	Silica saturation, alumina state, mass-balance error and interpretive flags
Execution	Single-sample Python API, pandas batch processing and CLI workflows
Reproducibility	YAML configuration, schema inspection, templates and input validation
Integration	Reusable normative-feature engine for GeoNormML

Supported chemistry

Core and accessory inputs include:

SiO2, TiO2, Al2O3, Fe2O3, FeO, FeOT, MnO, MgO, CaO, Na2O, K2O, P2O5, ZrO2, Cr2O3, CO2, S, F, Cl and SO3.

Optional identifier columns include Sample_ID and Notes. Input chemistry must use a consistent weight-percent basis and documented treatment of loss on ignition, below-detection values and total iron.

Installation

Latest release

python -m pip install geonormpy

Editable source installation

git clone https://github.com/jordan-zav/GeoNormPy.git
cd GeoNormPy
python -m venv .venv
.\.venv\Scripts\Activate.ps1
python -m pip install --upgrade pip
python -m pip install -e .

Quick Python example

from geonormpy.norms.cipw import cipw

sample = {
    "SiO2": 72.5,
    "Al2O3": 13.5,
    "FeOT": 2.5,
    "MgO": 0.5,
    "CaO": 1.8,
    "Na2O": 3.4,
    "K2O": 4.0,
}

result = cipw(sample)
print(result["minerals_wtpercent"])
print(result["flags"])

Command-line workflow

geonormpy --help
geonormpy schema
geonormpy make-template
geonormpy make-config
geonormpy validate --input data/test_data.csv
geonormpy run --config config/workflow.yaml

The example batch launcher reads data/test_data.csv and writes data/normative_results.csv:

python run_GeoNormPy.py

Standard outputs

Diagnostic fields

• silica_saturation
• alumina_state
• mass_balance_error
• interpretive_flag
• calc_error

Normative mineral fields

Q, Cor, Or, Ab, An, Le, Ne, Kp, Ac, Di, Hd, Wo, En, Fs, Fo, Fa, Mt, Hm, Ilm, Cm, Ru, Tn, Z, Ap, Cc, Py, Fl, Hl, Th, ns and ks.

Downstream software should preserve both the mineral results and the diagnostic columns. Filtering only the successful rows without retaining the error reason breaks traceability.

Scientific boundaries

• Normative phases are calculated end-members, not minerals observed in thin section.
• Iron-speciation assumptions can materially change normative mafic and oxide phases.
• Volatile, alteration and analytical-total problems must be reviewed before interpretation.
• TAS, QAPF, petrography and CIPW answer related but different classification questions.
• A successful mass balance does not prove that the input rock name is correct.

Development and verification

python -m pip install -e .
python -m pytest -q

The regression suite covers the CIPW engine, robustness cases, CLI behavior and configured workflows. See the complete method description and the audit record.

Repository map

Path	Contents
geonormpy/norms	CIPW and batch calculation engine
geonormpy/core	Chemistry constants, minerals and shared rules
geonormpy/schema.py	Supported input/output schema
geonormpy/cli.py	Command-line interface
config	Example YAML workflow configuration
tests	Numerical, robustness, CLI and workflow tests
docs	Method, theory and audit material

Citation

Use the metadata in CITATION.cff when citing GeoNormPy in a thesis, article or technical report.

License and contact

GeoNormPy is distributed under the GNU General Public License v3.0.

Jordan Zavaleta — GisGeo Dev
jordanzav@gisgeo.dev · gisgeo.dev