answersLogoWhite

0

Mafic rocks are denser than felsic rocks because they contain heavier compounds, minerals and other materials, they are ferromagnesian in composition.

User Avatar

Wiki User

13y ago

What else can I help you with?

Continue Learning about Natural Sciences

Why are felsic rocks melted by mafic magmas but mafic rocks are not melted by felsic magmas?

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.


Which cools faster mafic or felsic rocks?

mafic because it is-dark colored. Ultramafic - no light colored mineral which means it it attracts most heat from a volcano taking it longer to cool down from the lighter, in between substance known as felsic :D


How does the silica content of an intermediate rock compare with that of felsic and mafic rock?

Intermediate rocks have a silica content that falls between felsic and mafic rocks. Felsic rocks typically contain more than 65% silica, while mafic rocks generally have less than 55%. Intermediate rocks usually contain about 55-65% silica, making them compositionally distinct and often resulting in different mineral content and characteristics compared to the other two rock types.


How does Felsic magmas different from mafic magmas in color temperate minerals composition and the kind of rock each form?

Mafic lava is less viscous(runnier) than felsic lava due to a lower silica content. This causes non-violent eruptions such as in the Hawaiian Islands. Mafic lava tends to be associated more with interplate volcanism and mid-ocean ridges and produces the rock type known as basalt. (The ocean floor is made of basalt.) Felsic lava is mainly found at convergent zones (areas of colliding plates) and has a high silica and water content which causes the lava to be highly viscous and causes very violent eruptions. This lava produces rhyolite and andesitic rocks. The color of the rocks formed by magmas is a consequence of its composition, mafic magmas are dark colored (Mg-Fe) and felsic magmas are light colored (Feldspars-Si).


Why mafic rocks weather faster than sailic rocks?

Mafic rocks, which are rich in magnesium and iron, tend to weather faster than felsic rocks due to their mineral composition. The minerals in mafic rocks, such as olivine and pyroxene, are less stable at Earth's surface conditions and are more susceptible to chemical weathering. In contrast, felsic rocks contain more quartz and feldspar, which are more resistant to weathering processes. This difference in mineral stability leads to mafic rocks breaking down more quickly in the presence of water and atmospheric conditions.

Related Questions

Why are felsic rocks melted by mafic magmas but mafic rocks are not melted by felsic magmas?

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.


Are mafic rocks more or less dense than flesic rocks?

Mafic rocks are generally denser than felsic rocks due to their higher content of iron and magnesium minerals. This higher density is attributed to the presence of heavier elements in mafic compositions.


Mafic mineral low or high density?

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.


What is the difference in density in mafic rocks in relation to felsic rocks?

Mafic rocks, such as those found in the oceanic crust, are more dense than the felsic rocks found in the continental crust.


What minerals are present in felsic rocks and 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.


What is the lithosphere made of mafic or felsic?

Its made up of both. Oceanic crust is mostly mafic magma (basalt) and continental crust is mafic and felsic. The lithosphere also contains the upper portion of the upper mantle which is mostly mafic. The earths crust is 60% Si02 (silicates). Felsic rocks are much more silicate heavy than mafic. So one would assume that the crust is more felsic than mafic. That's just my conceptual thought process so don't take me on my word. Then again, the lithosphere also contains the upper mantle which is heavily mafic. So maybe the lithosphere in total is more mafic? Basically just typing thoughts down as they enter my brain. Answer I know for certain- Lithosphere is mafic and felsic.


Which cools faster mafic or felsic rocks?

mafic because it is-dark colored. Ultramafic - no light colored mineral which means it it attracts most heat from a volcano taking it longer to cool down from the lighter, in between substance known as felsic :D


How does the silica content of an intermediate rock compare with that of felsic and mafic rock?

Intermediate rocks have a silica content that falls between felsic and mafic rocks. Felsic rocks typically contain more than 65% silica, while mafic rocks generally have less than 55%. Intermediate rocks usually contain about 55-65% silica, making them compositionally distinct and often resulting in different mineral content and characteristics compared to the other two rock types.


Does continental lithosphere contain more mafic rocks than oceanic lithosphere?

No, oceanic lithosphere contains more mafic rocks compared to continental lithosphere. Oceanic lithosphere is mainly composed of basalt, which is a mafic rock, whereas continental lithosphere is composed of a variety of rock types, including granitic rocks which are more felsic in composition.


How does Felsic magmas different from mafic magmas in color temperate minerals composition and the kind of rock each form?

Mafic lava is less viscous(runnier) than felsic lava due to a lower silica content. This causes non-violent eruptions such as in the Hawaiian Islands. Mafic lava tends to be associated more with interplate volcanism and mid-ocean ridges and produces the rock type known as basalt. (The ocean floor is made of basalt.) Felsic lava is mainly found at convergent zones (areas of colliding plates) and has a high silica and water content which causes the lava to be highly viscous and causes very violent eruptions. This lava produces rhyolite and andesitic rocks. The color of the rocks formed by magmas is a consequence of its composition, mafic magmas are dark colored (Mg-Fe) and felsic magmas are light colored (Feldspars-Si).


Does rhyolite have a more mafic composition than basalt?

Rhyolite is not a mafic rock, but a felsic rock, high in silicates, and similar to granite in composition.


Why mafic rocks weather faster than sailic rocks?

Mafic rocks, which are rich in magnesium and iron, tend to weather faster than felsic rocks due to their mineral composition. The minerals in mafic rocks, such as olivine and pyroxene, are less stable at Earth's surface conditions and are more susceptible to chemical weathering. In contrast, felsic rocks contain more quartz and feldspar, which are more resistant to weathering processes. This difference in mineral stability leads to mafic rocks breaking down more quickly in the presence of water and atmospheric conditions.