felsic homenav ultramafic mafic intermediate

Felsic

granite

Granite



rhyolite

Rhyolite



obsidian

Obsidian

shape

In geology, felsic refers to igneous rocks that are relatively rich in elements that form feldspar and quartz. Felsic refers to those rocks rich in silicate minerals, magma, and rocks which are enriched in the lighter elements such as silicon, oxygen, aluminium, sodium, and potassium. They are usually light in color and have specific gravities less than 3. The most common felsic rock is granite. Common felsic minerals include quartz, muscovite, orthoclase, and the sodium-rich plagioclase feldspars. In terms of chemistry, felsic minerals and rocks are at the other end of the elemental spectrum from the mafic minerals and rocks.


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