mafic
nounEtymology Blend of magnesium + ferric.
1
A rock with such properties.
mafic
adjUK /ˈmafɪk/ · US /ˈmeɪfɪk/
Etymology Blend of magnesium + ferric.
1
Geography, Geology, Natural sciences Describing rocks, such as silicate minerals, magmas, and volcanic and intrusive igneous rocks, which contain relatively high concentrations of magnesium and iron.
- Much of the southern half of the southeastern body is a mafic syenite, slightly more felsic than the shonkinite.1954, J. C. Olson, D. R. Shawe, L. C. Pray, W. N. Sharp, Rare-Earth Mineral Deposits of the Mountain Pass District, San Bernadino County, California, U.S. Geological Survey, Professional Paper 261, page 22:
- As a whole, rocks of this type are referred to as mafic, because of the importance of magnesium and iron in their composition.2004, Richard Fortey, The Earth, Folio Society, published 2011, page 60:
- Derived terms
- nonmafic, ultramafic