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Its made up of both. Oceanic crust is mostly mafic magma (basalt) and continental crust is mafic and felsic.
The lithosphere also contains the upper portion of the upper mantle which is mostly mafic.
The earths crust is 60% Si02 (silicates). Felsic rocks are much more silicate heavy than mafic. So one would assume that the crust is more felsic than mafic. That's just my conceptual thought process so don't take me on my word.
Then again, the lithosphere also contains the upper mantle which is heavily mafic. So maybe the lithosphere in total is more mafic?
Basically just typing thoughts down as they enter my brain.
Answer I know for certain- Lithosphere is mafic and felsic.
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∙ 11y ago
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Does continental lithosphere contain more mafic rocks than oceanic lithosphere?
No continental lithosphere contains more felsic rocks than oceanic lithosphere.
Is sandstone felsic or mafic?
Neither. The terms mafic and felsic refer to the composition of igneous rocks, which are dominated by silicate minerals. Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of carbonate minerals. The terms mafic and felsic do no apply to it.
Does rhyolite have a more mafic composition than basalt?
Rhyolite is not a mafic rock, but a felsic rock, high in silicates, and similar to granite in composition.
Is olivine mafic or felsic?
Olivine is a mafic mineral. It is most abundant in ultramafic rocks.
Is granite mafic?
NO it is felsic
Does continental lithosphere contain more mafic rocks than oceanic lithosphere?
No continental lithosphere contains more felsic rocks than oceanic lithosphere.
Why are felsic rocks melted by mafic magmas but mafic rocks are not melted by felsic magmas?
Felsic rocks have a lower melting point than mafic rocks and felsic magma has a lower temperature. In other words, felsic magma is not hot enough to melt mafic rock while mafic magma is hot enough to melt felsic rock.
Does Krakatoa have felsic magma or mafic?
felsic
Is sandstone felsic or mafic?
Neither. The terms mafic and felsic refer to the composition of igneous rocks, which are dominated by silicate minerals. Marble is a metamorphic rock composed of carbonate minerals. The terms mafic and felsic do no apply to it.
Does rhyolite have a more mafic composition than basalt?
Rhyolite is not a mafic rock, but a felsic rock, high in silicates, and similar to granite in composition.
Is olivine mafic or felsic?
Olivine is a mafic mineral. It is most abundant in ultramafic rocks.
Is amphibolite mineral a felsic mafic or intermidate?
Is mineral amphibolite a felsic, mafic or intermidiate in term of color
Is granite mafic?
NO it is felsic
Is the oceanic crust felsic or mafic?
Oceanic crust is mafic.
Is a limestone mafic?
No. The terms mafic and felsic apply to igneous rocks. Limestone is a sedimentary/biochemical rock and so cannot be said to be mafic, felsic, or intermediate.
What is the mafic mineral and felsic mineral?
First of all there is no such thing as a mafic or a felsic "mineral". There can be mafic and felsic rocks.Mafic rocks have a high magnesium and iron content.Felsic rocks enriched with lighter elements such as oxygen and silicon.
Is the composition of the hawaiian lavas felsic or mafic?
Hawaiian lavas are mafic.
