andesitic magma
Quick Summary
Andesitic magma is a type of molten rock found in volcanic areas, intermediate in temperature and silica content between basaltic and rhyolitic magmas. It typically ranges from 800 to 1,000 °C (about 1,470 to 1,830 °F). Andesitic magma is often associated with convergent plate boundaries, where one tectonic plate slides beneath another. This process can lead to the generation of andesitic magma within the mantle wedge above the subducting plate or within the subducting plate itself.12
The resulting rock, andesite, is commonly fine-grained and may contain larger visible crystals of feldspar and ferromagnesian minerals within a finer groundmass. Andesite is abundant in volcanic mountain ranges, such as those in North and South America, and along the Pacific Basin.3
Ask Britannica AI about this topic
Britannica doesn't have a full article on this topic, so we've curated a list of our relevant coverage.
