Is Granite A Volcanic Rock

Plutonic rocks are contrasted with volcanic rocks which form at the surface.

Is granite a volcanic rock.

Strictly speaking granite is an igneous rock with between 20 and 60 quartz by volume and at least 35 of the total feldspar consisting of alkali feldspar although commonly the term granite is used to refer to a wider range of coarse grained igneous rocks containing quartz and feldspar. Granite is an igneous rock. Granite is considered a plutonic rock since it forms deep beneath the surface. Rhyolite is a volcanic rock with high silica content.

Granite is an intrusive igneous rock which means it was formed in place during the cooling of molten rock. Intrusive rocks also called plutonic rocks cool slowly without ever reaching the surface. The smooth polished surface of granite is ideal for crushing spices and foods. This surface is known as a phaneritic texture.

Granite is also beautiful and will last as long as it is well cared for. Generally the slower the molten rock cooled the larger it s mineral crystals with k feldspar megacrysts forming in special circumstances greater than 5cm. Applying this definition requires the mineral identification and quantification abilities of a competent geologist. Basalt is a very common volcanic rock with low silica content.

Granite is a plutonic rock in which quartz makes up between 10 and 50 percent of the felsic components and alkali feldspar accounts for 65 to 90 percent of the total feldspar content. Granite is a favorable material for molcajetes because of its durability. Granite tends to form at continental subduction zones where oceanic crust is subducting beneath continental crust. Rhyolite has silica content similar to that of granite while basalt is compositionally equal to gabbro.

Volcanic rocks are named according to both their chemical composition and texture. It is not considered a volcanic rock but a plutonic rock. The rocks made from the cooling and solidifying of molten rock are called igneous rocks and in this lesson you will learn about the two categories of igneous rocks volcanic and plutonic rocks.