Basalt And Granite Density

Since gabbro and basalt are made of the same minerals their densities are similar.

Basalt and granite density.

Rock density is very sensitive to the minerals that compose a particular rock type. Granite is an igneous plutonic rock which is. Link mountain formation in lesson 6 10 is dependent upon the density of the crust. Basalt is an igneous volcanic rock that forms commonly in oceanic crust and parts of continental crust.

The tholeiitic and the alkali basalts. It forms from lava flows which extrude onto the surface and cool. It wants to be there and heat is the key which unlocks the door. Basalts may be broadly classified on a chemical and petrographic basis into two main groups.

Its principle minerals include pyroxene feldspar and olivine. It is common both on earth and other planetary bodies. Basalt as a mafic rock contains more calcium oxide manganese oxide and iron compounds than granite. All rocks of igneous origin consist of magma or molten earth that finds its way up to.

Its high iron content gives it magnetic properties and it may show signs of rust when exposed to air. Granite is a felsic rock meaning that it has a high silicon content. Time 120 minutes lesson can be divided into two sessions maintaining the order of the lesson materials per group groups of 4 5. Basalt is an aphanitic fine grained igneous rock that is relatively low in silica and alkali metals it has less than 10 feldspathoid by volume with at least 65 of the rock consisting of feldspar in the form of plagioclase this places basalt in the basalt andesite field of the qapf diagram basalt is further distinguished from andesite by its silica content of less than 52.

And if you know your igneous petrology you will see that the more mafic rich in magnesium and iron a rock is the greater its density. Basaltic crust is dark and thin and heavy while granite is light and accumulates. It is mostly made out of quartz mica and feldspar. Sedimentary rocks and granite which are rich in quartz and feldspar tend to be less dense than volcanic rocks.

6 11 density of granite and basalt lesson concept density of basalt and granite affect the formation of landmasses on earth. The trick is to heat the basalt back up again so it can melt and give the iron another shot at the core. Gabbro s density ranges from 2 7 3 3 g cm 3. And not all granites basalts and gabbros contain exactly the same minerals.

As it turns out most of the ocean floor is basalt and most of the continents are granite. Learn more about basalt in this article.