What is a mafic mineral?

The elements magnesium and iron make up a large portion of mafic minerals. Magnesium contributes the prefix "ma-" to the word "mafic," while the remainder of the name is derived from the word "ferric," which means "iron."

These minerals, which include the well-known dark-colored minerals olivine, pyroxene, and biotite mica, are found in silica-poor rocks and the Earth's mantle.

In addition, their stability on Earth's surface is generally lower than that of other minerals; occasionally, volcanic eruptions bring mantle olivine to the surface, where it weathers into an orangey clay mineral.

A mafic mineral is a type of mineral that is rich in magnesium and iron and has a relatively low silica content. Mafic minerals are commonly found in igneous rocks such as basalt and gabbro. Examples of mafic minerals include olivine, pyroxene, amphibole, and biotite. These minerals typically have dark colors, such as green, brown, or black, and they tend to crystallize at higher temperatures compared to felsic minerals, which are richer in silica. Mafic minerals are important indicators of the composition and origin of igneous rocks.