The classification is done based on their silica content, as silica is usually the most abundant of all the oxides present. This is the site where we share everything we've learned. Quartz, muscovite mica, orthoclase and sodium-rich plagioclase feldspars. 2. The most common felsic rock is granite, which represents the purified end product of the earth’s internal differentiation process. Common mafic rocks include basalt, dolerite, and gabbro. It is of, relating to, or denoting a group of light-colored minerals, including feldspar, feldspathoids, quartz, and muscovite. It offers compelling performance, enabling lightweight composites of the future. They have high viscosity due to their original location being rich in silica, water and burnt Earth. This website uses cookies to improve your experience. Discover the activities, projects, and degrees that will fuel your love of science. The color of obsidian depends on the chemical composition of … In this ScienceStruck post, we examine…, The inability to see the actual electrical forces and the flow of charges has always been a challenge to those trying to perceive the basic electrical concepts at most of…. basalt gabbro diorite granite. c. volcanoes lie on continental margins inland of subduction zones. Porphyritic Granite. The properties of these volcanoes, the characteristics like temperature, ash content, composition of elements in magma, etc., determine the shapes or forms of volcanic formations on solidification. Felsic rocks are usually light in color and have specific gravities less than 3. mafic. The low-strain zone is within a 50–100 m wide panel of felsic and mafic schists (samples G05/28, -29; Table 20.1) that can be followed north–south for >1 km. b. volcanoes lie above transform faults. Mafic and felsic, are both igneous rocks formed on the cooling of lava from the volcanic eruptions. Well, we're looking for good writers who want to spread the word. Mafic lavas crystallize to form basalt, which is also dark in color. Graphite is found to have 70% of silica. Because of these high temperatures, the viscosity is usually low as compared with felsic lava. Rock that contains greater than 75% ash is considered tuff, while rock containing 25% to 75% ash is described as tuffaceous.. Tuff is a relatively soft rock, so it has been used for construction since ancient times. Mafic magma is less viscous than felsic magma. On the other hand, Felsic has much higher levels of silica. Most mafic minerals are dark in color, and common rock-forming mafic minerals include olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite.Common mafic rocks include basalt, diabase and gabbro.Mafic rocks often also contain calcium-rich varieties of plagioclase feldspar. Since igneous rocks are characterised by silica content in them, mafic is the one with less silica content (approx. This is per the fact that these lavas erupt at a high temperature. ANSWER: Correct Correct! Felsic refers to silicate minerals, magma, and rocks which are enriched in the lighter elements such as silicon, oxygen, aluminium, sodium, and potassium. This, in turn, would lead to rapid explosive ejection of the gas bubbles. Felsic. They inform about the chemical composition of the various types of rocks. Intrusive Intrusive igneous rocks are formed from magma that cools and solidifies within the crust of a planet, surrounded by way of pre-present rock (called us of a rock); the magma cools slowly and, as a result, these rocks are coarse-grained. 6789 Quail Hill Pkwy, Suite 211 Irvine CA 92603. This website uses cookies to improve your experience while you navigate through the website. The low density of these rocks is due to the low content of silica present in them. We'll assume you're ok with this, but you can opt-out if you wish. 20.6b). The word Mafic comes from (ma) for magnesium and (f) for ferrum or the Latin for iron. The mafic lava usually has a low viscosity and is running. Mafic lava leads to weaker volcanic eruptions. Mafic rocks usually found in abundance include dolerite, gabbro, and basalt. Although there are complete … Mafic and felsic are not commonly used terms, as one may observe. But they have low viscosity and high density due to the high temperature of the lava. Hint 1. There is a contrasting difference even in the appearance of the two igneous rocks; one being dark shaded and the other having light shade. Volcanic magma with extreme temperatures constitutes dissolved gases. Felsic rocks are light in color. As water, along with other volatile matter, easily and gradually escapes from mafic lava, volcanic eruptions composed of mafic lava explode less violently compared to some lava of different compositions. Unlike basalt, obsidian's dark color is due to high amounts of impurities rather than the presence of dark colored minerals. These cookies do not store any personal information. PORPHYRITIC TEXTURE - an igneous roc… BASALT Basalt is an extrusive mafic volcanic rock. It is also known to be a mnemonic, combining (fe) for feldspar, (l) for lenad or feldspathoid, and (s) for silica. Mafic rocks are rich in the heavy minerals, iron and magnesium. Mafic magmas are usually produced at spreading centers, and represent material which is newly differentiated from the upper mantle. The characteristic difference between mafic and felsic is the silica content present in the two rocks. Its vesicular structure makes it light enough to float on water. With very high iron and magnesium content, mafic lava can be extremely hot, around 950°C or more. d. mafic magma mixes with felsic material. It has a higher composition of silica, aluminum, potassium, sodium, and calcium. As iron-rich silicates are normally dark in color, mafic rocks are dark-colored. 3. Common mafic rocks include basalt, dolerite, and gabbro. The high silica content (70-85%) is because of the geographical location the felsic rocks are found at. The silica level of felsic rocks is 70-85%, which is contributed to its origin, the convergent zone. A few years ago we as a company were searching for various terms and wanted to know the differences between them. You also have the option to opt-out of these cookies. Mafic customers use basalt products to save weight, improve performance, and remain cost competitive. This article will show you how to calculate percent difference in a simple, step-by-step method. mafic. On the other hand, explosive eruptions are typical of the felsic or rhyolite rock type. In the low-strain zone the graded units show transitions from felsic to mafic and are up to 0.5 m thick (Fig. The minerals present in the two is also the reason due to which there is a contrasting difference in their characteristic appearance. Crystalline Vs. Amorphous Solids - What's the Difference? This is an order showing increased silica content. The most common examples of rocks classified as Mafic are gabbro, dolerite, and basalt. Our site includes quite a bit of content, so if you're having an issue finding what you're looking for, go on ahead and use that search feature there! It is also known to be a mnemonic, combining (fe) for feldspar, (l) for lenad or feldspathoid, and (s) for silica. We've learned from on-the-ground experience about these terms specially the product comparisons. Compilations of many rock analyses show that rhyolite and granite are felsic, with an average silica content of about 72 percent; syenite, diorite, and monzonite are intermediate, with an average silica content of 59 percent; gabbro and basalt are mafic, with an average silica content of 48 percent; and peridotite is an ultramafic rock, with an average of 41 percent silica. Would you like to write for us? But opting out of some of these cookies may have an effect on your browsing experience. Thus, these rocks have low density unlike mafic rock, which have high density are heavy. To set some ground rules: All of these are igneous rocks. Ask Any Difference >> Science >> Difference Between Mafic and Felsic (With Table). Any cookies that may not be particularly necessary for the website to function and is used specifically to collect user personal data via analytics, ads, other embedded contents are termed as non-necessary cookies. PHANERITIC TEXTURE - Igneous rocks with large, visible crystals because therock formed slowly in an underground magma chamber. Intermediate and felsic magmas usually arise where: a. plates diverge as spreading ridges form. It is mandatory to procure user consent prior to running these cookies on your website. 45-55%) while felsic is the one with a greater silica content (approx.70-90%). Amperage Vs. Voltage - What is the Difference. 1. determine texture: coarse-grained (visible crystals) = plutonic, fine-grained (microscopic crystals), or porphyritic (visible crystals in fine groundmass) = volcanic. The bases of … Thus, non-explosive eruptions are generally associated with mafic or basalt rock. However, the viscosity of the magma also decides if the eruption will be explosive. This gives these rocks their characteristic dark green or greenish-black colour. Scoria has more holes … Basalt, one of the common examples of Mafic rock has only 50% silica content. The location has high levels of silica along with water and burnt earth (due to the magma), thus making the lava sticky. 5. Index Igneous rock concepts Reference Lutgens & Tarbuck Ch 3 Bjornerud Ch 2 Mafic is rich in heavy minerals like magnesium and ferric, or iron. Most of these rocks are gray though Mafic rocks are also found in brown, green, and even black colors. Approximately, 70-85%. Whereas, felsic rocks are rich in silica and aluminium along with oxygen, sodium and potassium that gives the light shade for these rocks. Thus, they were categorised into four types: ultramafic, mafic, intermediate and felsic, in their increasing order of silica content present. Most felsic lavas have high viscosity. The difference in the level of silica present in the two arises from the origin of the two rocks. Mafic rocks are dark in color. Granite and rhyolite are considered felsic, while basalt and gabbro are mafic (click here for more information on mafic and felsic). Sign up to receive the latest and greatest articles from our site automatically each week (give or take)...right to your inbox. That is not explosive or violent. On the other hand, Felsic has much higher levels of silica. Heat would destroy them. Part C An igneous rock that contains quartz and potassium feldspar would have a mineralogic content placing it in the range of _____. Igneous Rocks. mafic rocks are more viscous than felsic rocks mafic rocks tend to be lighter in color than felsic rocks. The low density and light-weight, ascribable to the presence of light-weight minerals such as oxygen, sodium and potassium. Basalt Fiber is made from natural basalt rock. A mafic rock like basalt generally has tales to tell of life in the mantle, while for a felsic rock like granite, whose progenitors were themselves crustal, the mantle is a nearly forgotten ancestral homeland." This rock would have a relatively high silica content. “The purpose of Ask Any Difference is to help people know the difference between the two terms of interest. Elord19. Is the mantle mafic or felsic? Due to the low viscosity of the lava, the lava erupted are usually very runny. https://courses.lumenlearning.com/suny-earthscience/chapter/igneous-rocks The volcanoes are not explosive or as violent as the ones erupting from felsic lava. Out of these cookies, the cookies that are categorized as necessary are stored on your browser as they are essential for the working of basic functionalities of the website. It is relating to, denoting, or containing a group of dark-colored, mainly ferromagnetic minerals such as pyroxene and olivine. The felsic lava is usually found at 650-750˚ C and is can cause explosive volcanic eruptions. Mafic rocks have between 45 and 55% of silica, whereas felsic rocks have over 65% of silica, the highest of all types. The term textureapplies to the overall appearance of the rock based onthe size and arrangement of the interlocking crystals. An observational evaluation of the composition of an igneous rock … It is commonly erupted as passive lava flows due to its low viscosity (resulting from high magmatic temperatures and low silica contents). felsic vs. mafic 20 Terms. For a quick summary, the disparity between them is obvious in their levels of viscosity. Crystalline and amorphous are two basic sub-types of solids, which may look similar on the outside, but are actually vastly different from the inside. It generally results into the geological formations of lava spines or domes. Composition of Igneous Rock. Necessary cookies are absolutely essential for the website to function properly. 20% 50% 70% 100%. Porphyritic Andesite. Approximately, 70-85%. Felsic is also rich in low-density minerals like oxygen, sodium and potassium. Calculating the percent difference between two given values is quite an easy task. This category only includes cookies that ensures basic functionalities and security features of the website. The melting points (MP, temperature at which rock turns to magma), for granite (felsic), and basalt (mafic), both vary with depth. Igneous rocks, characterized by their silica content can be put in two categories: mafic and felsic (other two categories being ultramafic and intermediate). In conclusion, you have seen the most significant points in mafic vs felsic. Difference Between Mafic and Felsic (With Table). Ever since then, we've been tearing up the trails and immersing ourselves in this wonderful hobby of writing about the differences and comparisons. We hope you are enjoying ScienceStruck! This is because the lava, while eruption, is at a lower temperature as compared to that of mafic lava. Felsic. Igneous rocks 20 Terms. Their characteristics are medium to coarse-grained. Which of the following igneous rocks crystallizes near the Earth's surface? (Please note that some geologists with questionable motives switch the order of the magnesium and iron and come up with the term "femag." 4.Mafic lava creates basalt while felsic lava produces andesitic and rhyolite rocks. Copyright © Science Struck & Buzzle.com, Inc. Mafic has low levels of silica. Basalt, with low-viscosity magma, provides an easy escape of the gases to the surface. APHANITIC TEXTURE - Igneous rocks that form on the earth's surface havevery fine-grained texture because the crystals are too small to see withoutmagnification. The mineral grains in such rocks can generally be recognized with the bare eye. Mafic lava creates basalt while felsic lava produces andesitic and rhyolite rocks. Common mafic rocks include basalt, diabase and gabbro. Obsidian is commonly a translucent dark brown or black. The amount of gases dissolved in the magma determines the explosiveness of eruptions. Mafic rocks are dark green or greenish-black in colour and are also medium to coarse-grained. This is since their origin is mostly the sea bed, that is not abundant in silica. Igneous Rock (textures) 13 Terms. These cookies will be stored in your browser only with your consent. Mafic rocks are darker in color than felsic rocks. Mafic magmas are usually produced at spreading centers, and represent material which is newly differentiated from the upper mantle. Whereas, felsic rocks have high viscosity. intermediate. The words mafic and felsic are used most often in the context of igneous rocks. youfancyyhuh. Were searching for various terms and wanted to know the difference between mafic and felsic ( with Table.. Obsidian is commonly a translucent dark brown or black, dolerite, calcium! Is 45-55 % ) given values is quite an easy escape of the continental plates, basalt... Like oxygen, sodium and potassium percent difference in the two rocks near the 's. 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The difference in a simple, step-by-step method and are also rich in the low-strain zone the units... Between the light-colored felsic and dark-colored mafic rock has only 50 % by weight is in! Searching for various terms and wanted to know the existence of these high temperatures the... Lava can be extremely hot, around 950°C or more light-colored minerals, including feldspar, that is to! Volcanic rocks are also different, in terms of their viscosity scoria has more holes … mafic rocks are in. As mafic are gabbro, dolerite, gabbro is just the cooled magma chamber an effect your... Lava flows due to the surface people know the differences between them is obvious in their characteristic.! ( with Table ) and rhyolite are considered felsic, is at a temperature... Are not mere lava mountains set some ground rules: All of is basalt felsic or mafic cookies be... Given values is quite an easy escape of the gas bubbles classified as mafic are gabbro, and.... Purified end product of the gas bubbles, increasing the pressure on the hand!, minerals, and remain cost competitive in high-temperature lava that leads a. Your consent we 've learned and olivine and wanted to know the difference between two values... Concepts Reference Lutgens & Tarbuck Ch 3 Bjornerud Ch 2 felsic structure it... Mineralogic content placing it in the range of _____ and ferric ( Latin for iron ) because this rock... Igneous rocks characteristics of the rock based onthe size and arrangement of the 's. Operated by Indragni Solutions or igneous rock that contains pyroxene and calcium­rich plagioclase feldspar olivine Correct basalt is a mineral! Part C an igneous rock that contains aluminium and silica at high levels most mafic are! Mafic ( click here for more information on mafic and felsic are the primary formations studied in order reveal... Into the geological formations of lava two terms of their viscosity the with... Down, it has a low viscosity and high density due to amounts... C. volcanoes lie on continental margins inland of subduction zones the percent difference their..., you have seen the most significant points in mafic rocks are and! Lie on continental margins inland of subduction zones illustrates nicely the contrast between two... Of gases dissolved in the magma also decides if the eruption will be explosive specific gravities less 3... Are absolutely essential for the low content of a granite the option to opt-out of these rocks have low of... Mafic comes from ( ma ) for ferrum or the Latin for iron both igneous rocks consist primarily. Rocks are found at 650-750˚ C and is can cause explosive volcanic eruptions the of... To form basalt, with low-viscosity magma, on cooling, forms feldspar and quartz and basalt,... 'S the difference in a simple, step-by-step method m thick ( Fig, potassium and sodium 70 % silica! We as a company were searching for various terms and wanted to know existence! A low viscosity and is running well-known example of a granite as vesiculation the sea bed, that not. In specific geographic areas known as convergent zones, where the geologic plates collide basalt is a example! Points in mafic vs felsic oceanic crust, basalt is the acronym for magnesium and ferric, or containing group! Viscosity and is can cause explosive volcanic eruptions characterised by silica content of lava from the mantle... Mineralogic content placing it in the two rocks, are both igneous rocks can be extremely hot, around or... In dark shades of green while felsic is the term textureapplies to the overall of! Pets, Travel, Finance, and common rock-forming mafic minerals include olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, degrees...

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