monzonite

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mon·zo·nite

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(mŏn-zō'nīt', mŏn'zə-nīt') pronunciation

n.
An igneous rock composed chiefly of plagioclase and orthoclase, with small amounts of other minerals.

[French, after Mount Monzoni in northeast Italy.]

monzonitic mon'zo·nit'ic (mŏn'zə-nĭt'ĭk) adj.

monzonite

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Type of igneous rock that contains abundant and approximately equal amounts of plagioclase and potash feldspar, as well as other minerals. The type region is Monzoni, Italy, in the Italian Tirol; similar rocks have been described from Montana, Norway, Sakhalin Island, and other localities. Monzonite is not rare, but it generally occurs in rather small, heterogeneous masses mixed with diorites, pyroxenites, or gabbros.

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Igneous rocks

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Monzonite

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Not to be confused with the rare earth-bearing phosphate mineral Monazite.

Photomicrograph of thin section of monzonite (in cross polarised light)

The QAPF diagram, by which a monzonite is defined

Photomicrograph of thin section of monzonite (in plane polarised light)

An intrusion (Notch Peak monzonite) inter-fingers (partly as a dike) with highly-metamorphosed host rock (Cambrian carbonate rocks). From near Notch Peak, House Range, Utah.

Monzonite is an intermediate igneous intrusive rock composed of approximately equal amounts of sodic to intermediate plagioclase and orthoclase feldspars with minor amounts of hornblende, biotite and other minerals. Quartz a minor constituent or is absent; with greater than 5% quartz the rock is termed a quartz monzonite.^[1]

If the rock has more orthoclase or potassium feldspar it grades into a syenite. With an increase of calcic plagioclase and mafic minerals the rock type becomes a diorite. The volcanic equivalent is the latite.^[1]

References

^ ^a ^b Klein, Cornelis and Cornelius S. Hurlbut, Jr., Manual of Mineralogy, Wiley, 20th ed, pp. 480-484 ISBN 0-471-80580-7

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American Heritage Dictionary The American Heritage® Dictionary of the English Language, Fourth Edition Copyright © 2007, 2000 by Houghton Mifflin Company. Updated in 2009. Published by Houghton Mifflin Company. All rights reserved. Read

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