Basalt Granite Density

Sedimentary rocks and granite which are rich in quartz and feldspar tend to be less dense than volcanic rocks.

Basalt granite density.

Basalt is an igneous volcanic rock that forms commonly in oceanic crust and parts of continental crust. 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. Its principle minerals include pyroxene feldspar and olivine. Some of it erupts on land too but to a first approximation basalt is an oceanic rock.

Gabbro s density ranges from 2 7 3 3 g cm 3. It wants to be there and heat is the key which unlocks the door. Since gabbro and basalt are made of the same minerals their densities are similar. It forms from lava flows which extrude onto the surface and cool.

The key difference between basalt and granite is that basalt is mostly occurring on ocean floors while granite is in the crust of the earth in all continents. Rock density is very sensitive to the minerals that compose a particular rock type. Basaltic crust is dark and thin and heavy while granite is light and accumulates. Granite is an igneous plutonic rock which is.

When we have to compare granite vs basalt the texture color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. All rocks of igneous origin consist of magma or molten earth that finds its way up to. Some meteorites have low densities 3 0 g cm 3 but such meteorites are rare among meteorites. 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.

Granite is available in black grey orange pink white colors whereas basalt is available in black brown light to dark grey. Basalt is the dark heavy volcanic rock that makes up most of the world s oceanic crust. The trick is to heat the basalt back up again so it can melt and give the iron another shot at the core. Compared to the familiar granite of the continents basalt ba salt is darker denser and finer grained.

As it turns out most of the ocean floor is basalt and most of the continents are granite. For example limestone 2 6 g cm 3 or less quartzite 2 7 g cm 3 and granite 2 7 2 8 g cm 3 are all common low density rocks. It is common both on earth and other planetary bodies.