Composition Of Granite And Rhyolite

Rhyolite is extrusive equivalent of granite magma.

Composition of granite and rhyolite.

The rock received its name from german geologist ferdinand von richthofen better known as the red baron a world war i flying ace the word rhyolite comes from the greek word rhýax a stream of lava with the suffix ite given to rocks. Rhyolite is a silica rich igneous rock found throughout the world. Rhyolite is similar in composition and appearance to granite but it forms through a. Rocks of varying composition can arise from the same parent magma.

A plutonic igneous rock is one that crystallises. The minerals that make up the composition of this rock are mica feldspar quartz and hornblende. So i m going to make a general comment and say that a granite is genetically the same has the same composition as a rhyolite please don t take this as always true but it is a close enough estimate in most cases. The chemical composition of rhyolite is very like that of granite.

Hardness of granite and rhyolite is 6 7. Magma chambers form in the earth s crust. It is composed predominantly of quartz k feldspar and biotite. Rock with the same composition as granite can form through long and intense metamorphism of sedimentary rocks.

The phenocrysts of rhyolite may include quartz alkali feldspar oligoclase feldspar biotite amphibole or pyroxene if an alkali pyroxene or alkali amphibole is the principal dark mineral oligoclase will be rare or absent and the. It is composed predominantly of quartz k feldspar and biotite. Rhyolite is aphanitic microscopic crystals not visible to the naked eye. So if we assume the above to be true then the only difference between the rocks is that one is plutonic and the other is volcanic.

Rhyolite rocks bear a striking resemblance to granite due to being classified as felsic rocks except that rhyolite has a fine grained texture with phenocrysts which are small crystals sometimes embedded within the rock. Properties of rock is another aspect for granite vs rhyolite. Granite is available in black grey orange pink white colors whereas rhyolite is available in grey white light black colors. The average density of it is between 2 65 and 2 75 g cm3 its compressive strength usually lies above 200 mpa and its viscosity.

Due to their high content of silica and low iron and magnesium contents rhyolitic magmas form highly viscous lavas they also occur as breccias or in volcanic plugs and dikes rhyolites that cool too quickly to grow crystals form a. Granite and rhyolite peridotite and basalt all of the above pairs have the same chemical compositions. In the simplified classification the felsic lighter toned crystalline igneous. Appearance of granite is veined or pebbled and that of rhyolite is banded.

Density melting point. What is the effect of water on rock melting. Rhyolite can be considered as the extrusive equivalent to the plutonic granite rock and consequently outcrops of rhyolite may bear a resemblance to granite. Granite and rhyolite are distinguished by crystal size.

It may have any texture from glassy aphanitic porphyritic and by the orientation of small crystals reflecting the lava flow. This equivalence implies that at least some and probably most granites are of magmatic origin.