Are igneous rocks dense?
Igneous and metamorphic rock are generally more dense than sedimentary rocks. Mafic igneous rocks are generally more dense than felsic igneous rocks. Metal ore-bearing rocks are generally much denser than other rock types.
Which igneous rock has highest density?
The correct answer is Basalt. Basalt is a dark-colored, fine-grained, igneous rock composed mainly of plagioclase and pyroxene minerals.
What controls the density of igneous rocks?
porosity (pores, fractures) and density of pore fluids. This explains the general rule of density variation: Igneous rocks show an increase of density from felsic (acid) to mafic (basic) types; Porous rocks show a density decrease with increasing porosity and decreasing water saturation.
What is a rocks density?
Density is defined as the mass of a substance per unit volume, and is highly variable in crustal rocks. Rock density is a physical characteristic that is governed by the chemical composition (in situ minerals) and pore spaces of a specific rock or rock type.
What do igneous rocks look like?
Igneous rocks can have many different compositions, depending on the magma they cool from. They can also look different based on their cooling conditions. If lava cools almost instantly, the rocks that form are glassy with no individual crystals, like obsidian. There are many other kinds of extrusive igneous rocks.
What is the highest density rock?
Density is a measure of the mass of a substance per unit measure. For example, the density of a one-inch cube of iron is much greater than the density of a one-inch cube of cotton. In most cases, denser objects are also heavier….Rock Densities.
| Rock | Density |
|---|---|
| Rock salt | 2.5–2.6 |
| Sandstone | 2.2–2.8 |
| Shale | 2.4–2.8 |
| Slate | 2.7–2.8 |
What is the rarest type of igneous rock?
Komatiite is a very rare extrusive igneous rock only formed from incredibly hot magnesium-rich magma.
What is bulk density of rock?
In rock: Density. The bulk density of a rock is ρB = WG/VB, where WG is the weight of grains (sedimentary rocks) or crystals (igneous and metamorphic rocks) and natural cements, if any, and VB is the total volume of the grains or crystals plus the void (pore) space.…
How does the density of igneous rocks change?
In igneous rocks, density increases from felsic (acid) to mafic (basic) types. Each rock type shows a range of density values. 1 In comparison with most sedimentary rocks, this range is relatively small and is mainly result of a variation of the particular rock composition and a very small influence of pore or fracture volume.
What is the average density of a rock?
The following Table provides a list of typical rock types and minerals, with their density range and mean values. From this Table, it can be seen that the entire range of densities covers a factor of about eight� from 1.0 g/cm3 for water to 8.1 g/cm3 for cinnabar.
What is the difference between igneous and metamorphic rocks?
The bulk density is a valuable diagnostic of igneous and metamorphic rocktype. acid igneous rocks have a lower bulk density basic igneous rocks have a much higher bulk density siliceous metamorphic rocks generally have a lower bulk density than micaceous metamorphic rocks.
Which is more dense volcanic rocks or sedimentary rocks?
Sedimentary rocks (and granite), which are rich in quartz and feldspar, tend to be less dense than volcanic rocks. 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. As you can see, rocks of the same type can have a range of densities.