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- Felsic rocks are made of light-colored, low-density minerals such as quartz and feldspar. Mafic rocks are made of dark-colored, higher-density minerals such as olivine and pyroxene. Intermediate rocks have compositions between felsic and mafic. Ultramafic rocks contain more than 90% mafic minerals and have very few light, felsic minerals in them.
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Felsic and mafic rocks, division of igneous rocks on the basis of their silica content. Chemical analyses of the most abundant components in rocks usually are presented as oxides of the elements; igneous rocks typically consist of approximately 12 major oxides totaling over 99 percent of the rock.
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Jan 31, 2024 · Igneous rocks are classified based on their texture, mineral composition, and the environment of formation. The key factors include: Texture: Grain size, shape, and arrangement of crystals. Composition: Based on the silica content, they are categorized as felsic, intermediate, mafic, or ultramafic.
Felsic rocks are made of light-colored, low-density minerals such as quartz and feldspar. Mafic rocks are made of dark-colored, higher-density minerals such as olivine and pyroxene. Intermediate rocks have compositions between felsic and mafic.
For igneous rock, the composition is divided into four groups: felsic, intermediate, mafic, and ultramafic. These groups refer to differing amounts of silica, iron, and magnesium found in the minerals that make up the rocks.
Felsic and mafic rocks are two important types of igneous rocks. Their different physical and chemical properties are due to their different silica contents. Felsic rocks are high in silica, while mafic rocks are low in silica.
Igneous rocks are classified according to the relative abundances of minerals they contain. A given rock is represented by a vertical line in the diagram. In the mafic field, the arrows represent a rock containing 48% pyroxene and 52% plagioclase feldspar.
As has already been described, igneous rocks are classified into four categories: felsic, intermediate, mafic, and ultramafic, based on either their chemistry or their mineral composition. The diagram in Figure 3.4.1 can be used to help classify igneous rocks by their mineral composition.