Mafic rocks, such as those found in the oceanic crust, are more dense than the felsic rocks found in the continental crust.
Silica content increases from mafic to felsic, and Mg and Fe content decreases. These differences affect things such as viscosity, density and colour. Felsic magmas are the most viscous and least dense, and felsic rocks are the lightest in colour.
Mafic minerals generally have a relatively high density compared to felsic minerals. This is because mafic minerals are rich in iron and magnesium, which are denser elements. As a result, rocks rich in mafic minerals like basalt and gabbro tend to be heavier and denser than rocks composed of felsic minerals like granite.
Felsic rocks have 0-15% mafic crystals, while mafic rocks have 46-85% mafic crystals.
Mafic rocks have higher concentrations of dense minerals like iron and magnesium compared to felsic rocks, which are rich in lighter minerals like quartz and feldspar. This difference in mineral composition contributes to the higher density of mafic rocks.
Felsic rocks are primarily composed of minerals like quartz, feldspar, and muscovite, while mafic rocks contain minerals such as olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase. Felsic rocks have lighter-colored minerals and lower density compared to mafic rocks, which have darker-colored minerals and higher density.
Felsic rocks have a lower melting point than mafic rocks and felsic magma has a lower temperature. In other words, felsic magma is not hot enough to melt mafic rock while mafic magma is hot enough to melt felsic rock.
Is mineral amphibolite a felsic, mafic or intermidiate in term of color
Oceanic crust is mafic.
No. The terms mafic and felsic apply to igneous rocks. Limestone is a sedimentary/biochemical rock and so cannot be said to be mafic, felsic, or intermediate.
Neither. The terms mafic and felsic refer to the composition of igneous rocks, which are dominated by silicate minerals. Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of carbonate minerals. The terms mafic and felsic do no apply to it.
Rhyolite is not a mafic rock, but a felsic rock, high in silicates, and similar to granite in composition.
Felsic minerals are Silicon-rich; whereas Mafic ones are low in Silicon, but contain Iron and Magnesium.