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Felsic. In geology, felsic is a modifier describing igneous rocks that are relatively rich in elements that form feldspar and quartz. [1] It is contrasted with mafic rocks, which are relatively richer in magnesium and iron. Felsic refers to silicate minerals, magma, and rocks which are enriched in the lighter elements such as silicon, oxygen ...
The word " felsic " is a term used in geology to refer to silicate minerals, magma, and igneous rocks which are enriched in the lighter elements such as silicon, oxygen, aluminium, sodium, and potassium. They are usually light in colour and have specific gravities less than 3. The most common felsic rock is granite, but others include quartz ...
Felsic rocks are commonly oversaturated and contain free quartz (SiO 2 ), intermediate rocks contain little or no quartz or feldspathoids (undersaturated minerals), and mafic rocks may contain abundant feldspathoids. This broad grouping on the basis of mineralogy related to silica content is used in many modern classification schemes.
- The Editors of Encyclopaedia Britannica
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Jun 8, 2018 · felsic A term applied to light-coloured igneous minerals and igneous rocks rich in these minerals. Typical felsic minerals are quartz, feldspar, feldspathoids, muscovite, and corundum. The term felsic derives from the two common minerals, fel dspar and si lica. Felsic Geologists sometimes find it useful to classify igneous rocks based on color.
Aug 13, 2018 · Earth’s oldest evolved (felsic) rocks, the 4.02-billion-year-old Idiwhaa gneisses of the Acasta Gneiss Complex, northwest Canada, have compositions that are distinct from the felsic rocks that ...
