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In comparison to the slower cooled magma that created the gabbro, the dolerite has formed closer to the surface. This means that there was less time for crystal growth before it cooled into rock, resulting in the difference in crystal size between the two.

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Q: Dolerite and gabbro are both igneous rocks Dolerite has crystals about 1 mm across and gabbro has crystals about 5 mm across What does this indicate about the formation of these rocks?
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What texture is igneous?

igneous is the texture of igneous rocks. The texture of igneous rocks is defined by 3 ways: a) Crystallinity- it expresses the degree of formation of crystals in an igneous rock. the texture of an igneous rock may be Holocyrstalline (Completely characterised by crystals, Hemicrystalline (partially having crystals) and holocrystalline (no crystals). b) Granularity- it is the size of the grains. it may be equigranular (when mineral grains are equal in size) or inequigranular (when mineral grains are not equal in size). c) shape of crystals- The shape of crystals may be Euhedral (When all crystals are of same shape), Subhedral (when they are partially similar in shape), Anhedral (when they are completely different in shape).


Do igneous rocks have small crystals large crystals or no crystals?

It depends on the type of igneous rock. Intrusive igneous rocks such as granite have large crystals, extrusive igneous rocks may have small crystals as in basalt or no crystals as in pumice.


How is the size of mineral crystals in igneous rock related to the rate at which they cool?

When igneous rocks cool quickly, they have small crystals and have a texture that may be described as aphanitic. When igneous rocks cool slowly, they have much larger crystals and have a texture that may be described as phaneritic or pegmatitic.


What does the presence of large crystals in an igneous rock indicate?

It indictes slow rate of cooling, solidification, and crystalization, as a result of depth of the magma. This implies that the rock is most likely to be an intrusive igneous rock.


What are crystals igneous sedimentary or metamorphic?

its igneous and sedimentary and metamorphic

Related questions

What condition lead of the formation of large crystals in an igneous?

Igneous rocks will develop large crystals is they cool slowly underground.


What conditions lead to the formation of large crystals in an igneous rock?

Igneous rocks will develop large crystals is they cool slowly underground.


What conditions lead to formation of large crystals in an igneous rock?

Igneous rocks will develop large crystals is they cool slowly underground.


What is dolerite made out of?

Igneous Rock :)


What is a dolerite dyke?

Dolerite is coarse grained variety of basalt, if present in the dorm of a dyke (discordent igneous body), it is called a dolerite dyke.


How is the size of crystals in an igneous rock related to the formation of a rock?

If an igneous rock is formed from slowly cooling magma under the ground, it has more time to form crystals and so the crystals it forms are much larger than igneous rock formed from more quickly cooling magma or lava.


What texture is igneous?

igneous is the texture of igneous rocks. The texture of igneous rocks is defined by 3 ways: a) Crystallinity- it expresses the degree of formation of crystals in an igneous rock. the texture of an igneous rock may be Holocyrstalline (Completely characterised by crystals, Hemicrystalline (partially having crystals) and holocrystalline (no crystals). b) Granularity- it is the size of the grains. it may be equigranular (when mineral grains are equal in size) or inequigranular (when mineral grains are not equal in size). c) shape of crystals- The shape of crystals may be Euhedral (When all crystals are of same shape), Subhedral (when they are partially similar in shape), Anhedral (when they are completely different in shape).


Why Is the crystal in igneous rock small if it cools quickly from magma?

The crystals within don't have as much time to grow when igneous rock is cooled more quickly as in extrusive igneous formation.


Do igneous rocks have small crystals large crystals or no crystals?

It depends on the type of igneous rock. Intrusive igneous rocks such as granite have large crystals, extrusive igneous rocks may have small crystals as in basalt or no crystals as in pumice.


What does dolerite mean?

A dolerite occurs in dikes and sills. These are dark, medium-grained igneous rocks that are typically containing olivine, plagioclase, and pyroxene.


How is the size of mineral crystals in igneous rock related to the rate at which they cool?

When igneous rocks cool quickly, they have small crystals and have a texture that may be described as aphanitic. When igneous rocks cool slowly, they have much larger crystals and have a texture that may be described as phaneritic or pegmatitic.


Does cooling rate affect solubility?

slower rates of cooling will create larger crystals, rapid cooling allows little time for element accumulation in the crystal, therefore, the crystals created will be smaller. larger, visible crystals in igneous rock indicate that the magma was slow cooling, usually at depth. much smaller crystals in igneous rock indicate rapid cooling of lava, usually at or near the surface. crystals in igneous rock will grow larger and have more to accumulate material for their growth the more they have at their crystallization temperature.