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Igneous rocks that are dense and dark-colored are called basaltic rocks. They are formed from magma that is rich in iron and magnesium and poor in silica content.

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Dense heavy dark-colored igneous rocks form from what magma?

Dense heavy dark-colored igneous rocks form from mafic magma, which is rich in iron and magnesium and has a relatively low silica content. This type of magma tends to crystallize into minerals like pyroxene, olivine, and amphibole, resulting in rocks like basalt or gabbro.


Are basaltic igneous rocks high in iron and magnesium?

Yes, basaltic igneous rocks are typically high in iron and magnesium. This is because basalt forms from the partial melting of the Earth's mantle, which is rich in these elements. The high iron and magnesium content gives basalt its dark color and dense, fine-grained texture.


What are the terms felsic and mafic used by geologists to describe?

Geologists use the terms felsic and mafic to describe the compositions of igneous rocks. Felsic rocks are rich in silicon and aluminum, making them lighter in color and less dense. Mafic rocks are richer in magnesium and iron, making them darker in color and denser.


Igneous rocks like gabbro and basalt are silica-deficient with high magnesium and iron?

Yes, this is true. The rocks in question are 'Mafic' or 'Basic'. Mafic minerals are often dark in colour, and are indeed composed of Iron, with a good portion of Magnesium and other elements. They are Silica/Quartz deficient, and also note that the mineralogy makes Basaltic lava particularly runny, as opposed to Andesitic lava, with high Silica, which is very viscous.


What is the difference between felsic intermediate and mafic igneous rocks?

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.

Related Questions

What is the igneous rock that is dense and dark colored and forms from magma that is rich in iron and magnesium but poor in silica That has 8 letters?

The igneous rock you are referring to is basalt. It is a fine-grained, dense, and dark-colored rock that forms from low-silica magma rich in iron and magnesium.


In general how does the density of a light colored igneous rock differ from that of a dark colored igneous rock?

Light-coloured igneous rocks, such as granite, have a higher silica content and lower iron and magnesium than darker ones, such as basalt. Since iron and magnesium are very dense minerals, this makes darker igneous rocks more dense than lighter ones.


Dense heavy dark-colored igneous rocks form from what magma?

Dense heavy dark-colored igneous rocks form from mafic magma, which is rich in iron and magnesium and has a relatively low silica content. This type of magma tends to crystallize into minerals like pyroxene, olivine, and amphibole, resulting in rocks like basalt or gabbro.


Light colored igneous rocks are less what than dark igneous rocks?

Dense. Light colored igneous rocks have lower density compared to dark colored igneous rocks due to their higher silica content, which results in slower cooling and the formation of larger crystals.


Light-colored igneous rocks are less what than dark-colored igneous rocks are?

less dense


How does the density of a light colored igneous rock differ from that of a dark colored igneous rock?

Normally, light colored igneous rocks are less dense compared to dark colored igneous rocks. This is because the light colored rocks have a less iron in them.


How are light colored igneous rocks different?

Light colored igneous rocks have a higher silica content and are known as felsic rocks. They have a lower density and are more common in continental crust. These rocks tend to be rich in minerals like quartz, potassium feldspar, and muscovite.


How do light colored rocks and dark colored rocks differ in composition?

Light colored igneous rock is called felsic, and is high in quartz, muscovite mica, and orthoclase feldsparcontent. Dark colored igneous rock is called mafic, and contains a lesser amount of silica along with olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, biotite mica, and plagioclase feldspar.


Are basaltic igneous rocks high in iron and magnesium?

Yes, basaltic igneous rocks are typically high in iron and magnesium. This is because basalt forms from the partial melting of the Earth's mantle, which is rich in these elements. The high iron and magnesium content gives basalt its dark color and dense, fine-grained texture.


What are the terms felsic and mafic used by geologists to describe?

Geologists use the terms felsic and mafic to describe the compositions of igneous rocks. Felsic rocks are rich in silicon and aluminum, making them lighter in color and less dense. Mafic rocks are richer in magnesium and iron, making them darker in color and denser.


Igneous rocks like gabbro and basalt are silica-deficient with high magnesium and iron?

Yes, this is true. The rocks in question are 'Mafic' or 'Basic'. Mafic minerals are often dark in colour, and are indeed composed of Iron, with a good portion of Magnesium and other elements. They are Silica/Quartz deficient, and also note that the mineralogy makes Basaltic lava particularly runny, as opposed to Andesitic lava, with high Silica, which is very viscous.


How does the density of a light colored rock differ from the density of dark colored rock?

Normally, light colored igneous rocks are less dense compared to dark colored igneous rocks. This is because the light colored rocks have a less iron in them.