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Flashcards in this deck (178)
  • What are intermediate rocks examples?

    Granodiorite, diorite, syenite, phonolite

    geology rocks
  • What does felsic mean?

    Felsic rocks contain more than 65% silica

    geology felsic
  • What minerals are enriched in felsic rocks?

    Sodium and potassium

    geology minerals
  • What minerals are depleted in felsic rocks?

    Iron, magnesium, calcium

    geology minerals
  • What are important minerals in felsic rocks?

    Quartz, feldspathoid, soda feldspar, potash feldspar, muscovite

    geology minerals
  • What color are felsic rocks typically?

    Light-coloured

    geology color
  • What are the most common felsic rocks?

    Granite and rhyolite

    geology rocks
  • What is a granitoid rock?

    A common term for a group of plutonic rocks including granites

    geology granitoid
  • What does rhyolite resemble?

    Granite in composition

    geology rhyolite
  • How does rhyolite cool compared to granite?

    Rhyolite cools more rapidly

    geology cooling
  • What is pegmatite?

    Very coarse-grained felsic rock

    geology pegmatite
  • What minerals are commonly found in pegmatite?

    Quartz, alkali feldspar, mica

    geology minerals
  • What are the characteristics of granite?

    Light coloured, medium to coarse-grained, intrusive igneous rock

    geology granite
  • What is granite primarily used for?

    Dimension/building stones

    geology uses
  • What is the texture of granite?

    Megascopic and microscopic characteristics

    geology texture
  • What is the appearance of granite?

    Light coloured (leucocratic), medium to coarse-grained

    geology appearance
  • What minerals primarily compose granite?

    Quartz, alkali feldspar, plagioclase, mica, amphiboles, and other accessory minerals.

    geology minerals
  • How does granite differ from granodiorite?

    Granite has more alkali feldspar than plagioclase; granodiorite has more plagioclase than alkali feldspar.

    geology rocks
  • What are the types of alkali feldspar found in granite?

    Orthoclase and microcline.

    geology minerals
  • What is the leucocratic nature of granite?

    Granite is light-colored due to the dominance of light-colored minerals.

    geology rocks
  • What colors can granite be found in?

    Grey, white, red, or pink.

    geology colors
  • What is the quartz content in granite?

    More than 20% quartz.

    geology minerals
  • What is the alkali feldspar content in granite?

    50-80% alkali feldspar.

    geology minerals
  • What are the essential minerals in granite?

    Alkali feldspar, Na-rich plagioclase, perthite, antiperthite, and quartz.

    geology minerals
  • What are the accessory minerals in granite?

    Muscovite, biotite, hornblende, zircon, apatite, titanite, tourmaline, topaz, ilmenite, and magnetite.

    geology minerals
  • What are the secondary minerals found in granite?

    Sericite, chlorite, and epidote.

    geology minerals
  • What is the texture of granite?

    Medium to coarse-grained, holocrystalline texture.

    geology texture
  • What is the typical grain size of granite?

    Medium to coarse-grained.

    geology texture
  • What type of texture is commonly observed in granite?

    Porphyritic texture.

    geology texture
  • What structures are commonly found in granite?

    Xenoliths and rare foliations.

    geology structure
  • What is the appearance of granite?

    Light colored rock composed mainly of light-colored minerals.

    geology appearance
  • What is the typical arrangement of minerals in granite?

    Irregular and compact arrangement.

    geology structure
  • What is the main composition of granite?

    Quartz, alkali feldspar, plagioclase, mica

    mineralogy granite
  • What is the dominant alkali feldspar in granite?

    Microcline and orthoclase

    mineralogy feldspar
  • What is perthite?

    Intimate intergrowth of sodic and potassic feldspars

    mineralogy perthite
  • What does exsolution texture indicate?

    Chemical breakdown of a homogenous solid solution during cooling

    texture exsolution
  • What are accessory minerals in granite?

    Muscovite, biotite, hornblende, zircon, titanite, apatite, tourmaline, magnetite

    mineralogy accessories
  • What happens to feldspar during alteration?

    Feldspar alters to sericite

    alteration feldspar
  • What is the texture of granite?

    Holocrystalline and hypidiomorphic

    texture granite
  • What is the granularity of granite?

    Medium to coarse-grained

    granularity granite
  • What is myrmekitic texture?

    Intergrowth of quartz in plagioclase

    texture myrmekite
  • What is graphic texture in granite?

    Intergrowth of quartz and feldspar

    texture graphic
  • What is monzogranite?

    Granite with 35-65% alkali feldspar

    rock_types monzogranite
  • What is syenogranite?

    Granite with 65-90% alkali feldspar

    rock_types syenogranite
  • What is alkali granite?

    Granite with >90% alkali feldspar

    rock_types alkali_granite
  • What is the percentage of feldspar in granite?

    65-90%

    geology granite
  • What is the alkali feldspar percentage in alkali granite?

    90%

    geology granite
  • What mafic minerals are found in alkali granite?

    Alkali pyroxenes (aegirineaugite) and alkali amphibole

    geology granite
  • What characterizes graphic granite?

    Oriented intergrowth of quartz and orthoclase

    geology granite
  • What is Luxullianite?

    Tourmaline-granite with significant tourmaline

    geology granite
  • What type of rock is granite classified as?

    Felsic plutonic igneous rock

    geology classification
  • What type of rock is granite?

    Intrusive igneous rock

    geology rock_types
  • In what forms does granite commonly occur?

    Stocks, bosses, and batholiths

    geology granite
  • What is rhyolite?

    A volcanic rock of felsic composition

    geology rhyolite
  • What is the silica content of rhyolite?

    68%

    geology rhyolite
  • What is the alkali content in rhyolite?

    Up to 5% (Na2O+K2O)

    geology rhyolite
  • What temperature range do acidic lavas erupt at for rhyolite formation?

    700 to 850°C

    geology rhyolite
  • What are the dominant minerals in rhyolite?

    Quartz (>20%), alkali feldspar (>35%), and biotite

    geology rhyolite
  • What is a common appearance of rhyolite?

    Fine-grained and often banded

    geology rhyolite
  • What are the essential minerals in rhyolite?

    K-feldspar (sanidine), Na-rich plagioclase, quartz, biotite

    geology rhyolite
  • What are some accessory minerals in rhyolite?

    Zircon, apatite, magnetite, ilmenite, pyroxene, amphibole

    geology rhyolite
  • What are secondary minerals in rhyolite?

    Sericite, chlorite

    geology rhyolite
  • What is the texture of rhyolite?

    Varies from glassy, aphanitic to porphyritic.

    geology rhyolite texture
  • What reflects the lava flow direction in rhyolite?

    Orientation of small crystals.

    geology rhyolite lava
  • What type of grain size does rhyolite have?

    Fine-grained, mostly aphanitic.

    geology rhyolite grain_size
  • What is the common arrangement of constituents in rhyolite?

    Equigranular and fine grained.

    geology rhyolite fabric
  • What structures can rhyolite have?

    Vesicular or amygdaloidal structure.

    geology rhyolite structure
  • What are spherulites in rhyolite?

    Spherical bodies with radial aggregates of needles, usually quartz and feldspar.

    geology rhyolite spherulites
  • What causes flow banding in rhyolite?

    High viscosity and low capacity of rhyolitic lava flow.

    geology rhyolite flow_banding
  • What is a common texture observed in rhyolite?

    Porphyritic texture.

    geology rhyolite texture
  • What minerals compose rhyolite?

    Quartz, sanidine, plagioclase, biotite, anorthoclase, magnetite.

    geology rhyolite mineralogy
  • What percentage of quartz is typically present in rhyolite?

    More than 20%.

    geology rhyolite mineralogy
  • What are common accessory minerals in rhyolite?

    Zircon, apatite, xenotime, pyroxene, amphibole, magnetite, ilmenite, rutile, leucoxene.

    geology rhyolite accessory_minerals
  • What characterizes the textures of obsidian and pumice?

    Holohyaline and hypocrystalline textures.

    geology obsidian pumice
  • What is the appearance of rhyolite under a microscope?

    Varies from cryptocrystalline to microcrystalline felsitic type to porphyritic type.

    geology rhyolite microscopic
  • What is commonly observed in rhyolite?

    Sericitisation and chloritisation.

    geology rhyolite alteration
  • What type of texture is observed in devitrified glass portions of rhyolite?

    Spherulitic texture.

    geology rhyolite texture
  • What is the texture of devitrified glass portions?

    Spherulitic texture

    geology textures
  • What characterizes obsidian?

    Holohyaline and hypocrystalline textures

    geology rock_types
  • What is the crystallinity of rhyolite?

    Mesocrystalline or hemicrystalline

    geology rhyolite
  • What is the grain size of rhyolite?

    Very fine and/or partly glassy

    geology granularity
  • What texture may rhyolite exhibit?

    Porphyritic texture

    geology textures
  • What are the phenocrysts found in rhyolite?

    Quartz, plagioclase, orthoclase/sanidine

    geology minerals
  • What shape are quartz phenocrysts?

    Bipyramidal

    geology shapes
  • What is obsidian?

    Rhyolitic glass with 1-2% water content

    geology rock_types
  • What characterizes perlite?

    Rhyolitic glass with 3-5% water content

    geology rock_types
  • What is pumice?

    Highly vesicular glassy rhyolite

    geology rock_types
  • How are rhyolite rocks classified?

    Felsic volcanic rocks

    geology classification
  • Where are rhyolites more common?

    On continents than in oceans

    geology occurrence
  • What is the silica content range for intermediate rocks?

    52 - 65%

    geology intermediate_rocks
  • What is the most common felsic mineral in intermediate rocks?

    Plagioclase

    geology minerals
  • What are common mafic minerals in intermediate rocks?

    Hornblende, augite, biotite

    geology minerals
  • What are common intermediate rocks?

    Granodiorite, diorite, syenite, andesite, phonolite

    geology rock_types
  • What type of rocks are granodiorite, diorite, syenite, and andesite?

    Intermediate rocks

    geology rocks
  • What is granodiorite classified as?

    Plutonic felsic rock

    geology granodiorite
  • What color is granodiorite typically?

    Light colored

    geology granodiorite
  • What minerals dominate granodiorite?

    Plagioclase over alkali feldspars

    geology granodiorite
  • What is the grain size of granodiorite?

    Medium to coarse-grained

    geology granodiorite
  • What is the typical appearance of granodiorite?

    Holocrystalline

    geology granodiorite
  • What are the essential minerals in granodiorite?

    Na-rich plagioclase, K-feldspar, quartz, biotite, amphibole

    geology granodiorite
  • What accessory minerals are found in granodiorite?

    Muscovite, apatite, magnetite, zircon

    geology granodiorite
  • What secondary minerals are present in granodiorite?

    Sericite, chlorite, epidote

    geology granodiorite
  • What is the texture of granodiorite?

    Holocrystalline texture

    geology granodiorite
  • What type of structure is commonly found in granodiorite?

    Layered structure

    geology granodiorite
  • What is the dominant mineral in granodiorite under polarized light?

    Plagioclase feldspar

    geology granodiorite
  • What is the characteristic texture of granodiorite under microscopic examination?

    Phaneritic texture

    geology granodiorite
  • What is the dominant mineral in felsic rocks?

    Feldspar and quartz

    geology felsic
  • What type of rock is granodiorite classified as?

    Felsic plutonic igneous rock

    geology classification
  • What is the typical texture of granodiorite?

    Hypidiomorphic

    geology texture
  • What is the granularity of granodiorite?

    Medium-grained to coarse-grained

    geology granularity
  • What type of texture can granodiorite exhibit?

    Porphyritic and granular

    geology texture
  • Which minerals are commonly found in granodiorite?

    Quartz, feldspar, biotite, hornblende

    geology minerals
  • What accessory minerals may be found in granodiorite?

    Muscovite, zircon, titanite, apatite, tourmaline, magnetite

    geology accessory_minerals
  • What alteration can feldspars undergo in granodiorite?

    Alteration to sericite

    geology alteration
  • Where does granodiorite typically occur?

    In subduction zones and collisional settings

    geology occurrence
  • What is the volcanic equivalent of diorite?

    Andesite

    geology rock_types
  • What is the composition of diorite?

    Intermediate composition

    geology composition
  • What is the texture of diorite?

    Granular texture

    geology texture
  • What is the relationship between granodiorite and tonalite?

    Tonalite is a coarse-grained rock with less quartz and feldspars

    geology rock_types
  • Which minerals show pleochroism in granodiorite?

    Hornblende and biotite

    geology optical_properties
  • What type of twinning is observed in plagioclase?

    Lamellar twinning

    geology optical_properties
  • What is the volcanic equivalent of diorite?

    Andesite

    geology rocks
  • What is the mineral composition of diorite based on QAPF diagram?

    More than 90% plagioclase, less than 5% quartz

    geology mineralogy
  • What is diorite commonly referred to due to its appearance?

    Salt and pepper rock

    geology appearance
  • What is the typical color of diorite?

    Dark to medium, speckled black and white

    geology color
  • What type of rock is diorite classified as?

    Medium-grained to coarse-grained holocrystalline intrusive igneous rock

    geology rock_types
  • What are the essential minerals in diorite?

    Ca-Na plagioclase, amphibole, biotite, pyroxene

    geology mineralogy
  • What are the accessory minerals found in diorite?

    Minor quartz, alkali-feldspar, apatite, magnetite, garnet

    geology mineralogy
  • What secondary minerals can be found in diorite?

    Chlorite, sericite, epidote

    geology mineralogy
  • What is the grain size of diorite?

    Medium-grained to coarse-grained

    geology texture
  • What is the arrangement of minerals in diorite?

    Irregular and compact

    geology fabric
  • What are the main minerals present in diorite?

    Plagioclase, amphiboles, biotite, quartz

    geology mineralogy
  • What is the anorthite content of plagioclase in diorite?

    Usually 50%

    geology mineralogy
  • What does the presence of more quartz in diorite indicate?

    The rock is termed as quartz diorite

    geology rock_types
  • What is the appearance of diorite under a microscope?

    Laths of plagioclase with lamellar twinning and minor subhedral quartz

    geology microscopy
  • Which mafic minerals are commonly found in diorite?

    Hornblende, augite, biotite

    geology mineralogy
  • What are the main accessory minerals in diorite?

    Magnetite, apatite, sphene, ilmenite, zircon

    geology mineralogy
  • What type of quartz is present in diorite?

    Minor amount of subhedral quartz

    minerals diorite
  • What mafic minerals dominate diorite?

    Hornblende and augite

    minerals mafic
  • What is a characteristic feature of biotite in diorite?

    Exhibits pleochroic haloes caused by zircon inclusions

    biotite pleochroism
  • What color can biotite in diorite range from?

    Pale brown to dark brown

    biotite color
  • What interference colors can clinopyroxenes show?

    Second order interference colours of blue and purple

    clinopyroxenes interference
  • What is the texture of diorite?

    Holocrystalline and hypidiomorphic

    texture diorite
  • What is the granularity of diorite?

    Phaneritic with medium-sized crystals (1-2mm)

    granularity diorite
  • What types of rock are observed in diorite?

    Quartzdiorite, Monzodiorite, Alkali diorite

    rock_types diorite
  • What defines quartzdiorite?

    Contains quartz (>5%) and alkali feldspar

    quartzdiorite composition
  • What minerals are present in alkali diorite?

    Ca-Na plagioclase, orthoclase-microcline, nepheline, sodalite, alkali amphibole, alkali pyroxene, biotite

    composition alkali_diorite
  • What type of rock is diorite classified as?

    Plutonic intermediate igneous rock

    classification diorite
  • Where is diorite usually found?

    Associated with subduction zones

    occurrence diorite
  • What is syenite?

    An intrusive plutonic rock belonging to the alkali series of intermediate igneous rock

    syenite rock_type
  • What is the SiO2 content in syenite?

    65% SiO2

    syenite composition
  • What is the major mineral component of true syenite?

    Alkali feldspar (orthoclase and/or microcline)

    syenite composition
  • What is typically lacking in syenite?

    Quartz

    syenite composition
  • What are the volcanic equivalents of syenite?

    Trachyte and phonolite

    volcanic syenite
  • What is the color of syenite generally?

    Varied, but mostly leucocratic

    syenite color
  • What is the mineralogical composition of syenite?

    Alkali feldspar, plagioclase, amphibole, biotite, pyroxene

    syenite composition
  • What accessory minerals can be found in syenite?

    Quartz or feldspathoid, ilmenite, apatite, magnetite, zircon

    syenite accessory_minerals
  • What are feldspathoids?

    Relatively rare minerals in syenitic rocks.

    minerals igneous
  • Can syenitic rock contain quartz?

    No, syenitic rock with quartz cannot contain feldspathoids.

    igneous syenite
  • What are the secondary minerals found in syenite?

    Chlorite and sericite.

    minerals syenite
  • What is the physical appearance of syenite?

    Leucocratic, granular, holocrystalline rock.

    texture syenite
  • What is the grain size of syenite?

    Medium-grained to coarse-grained.

    texture syenite
  • What type of texture does syenite exhibit?

    Granular in nature, phaneritic texture.

    texture syenite
  • What dominates the mineralogy of syenite?

    Dominance of alkali feldspar.

    mineralogy syenite
  • What is the maximum percentage of quartz in syenite?

    Cannot exceed more than 5%.

    mineralogy syenite
  • What types of alkali feldspar can be present in syenite?

    Orthoclase and perthites, rarely microcline.

    mineralogy syenite
  • What are common accessory minerals in syenite?

    Apatite, ilmenite, magnetite, and sulphides.

    minerals syenite
  • What type of texture shows syenite at the microscopic level?

    Pandiomorphic and hypidiomorphic texture.

    texture syenite
  • What are the two types of syenite?

    Quartz syenite and nepheline syenite.

    rock_types syenite
  • What characterizes quartz syenite?

    Higher occurrence of quartz, Si-saturated variety.

    rock_types syenite
  • What characterizes nepheline syenite?

    Presence of nepheline, Si-undersaturated variety.

    rock_types syenite
  • How is syenite classified?

    As an intrusive plutonic intermediate rock.

    classification syenite
  • Where are syenitic rocks usually found?

    Associated with other plutonic rocks in small intrusive bodies.

    occurrence syenite
  • What geological activities produce syenitic rocks?

    Alkaline igneous activities from partial melting of lower crust.

    geology syenite
  • In what geological settings are syenites formed?

    Continental rift zones and subduction zones.

    geology syenite
  • What are the most abundant igneous rocks on Earth?

    Granite and granodiorite.

    rocks igneous
  • What type of rocks are most abundant in the Earth's crust?

    Igneous rocks

    geology rocks
  • What is the primary category of rocks found in the Earth's crust?

    Igneous

    geology rocks