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granitic magma

geology
Also known as: rhyolitic magma

Quick Summary

Granitic magma is a silicate melt that cools at depth to form granite, a coarse-grained igneous rock rich in quartz and feldspar. It is a common component of Earth's crust. Granitic magmas are generated at convergent plate boundaries, where oceanic lithosphere is subducted. This process involves the partial melting of crustal rocks, often aided by the presence of water, which lowers the melting temperature.12

Granite itself is characterized by its principal constituent, feldspar, with both plagioclase and alkali feldspar usually abundant. Minor essential minerals can include muscovite, biotite, amphibole, or pyroxene. Granitic rocks can also form through granitization, a metamorphic process where sediments transform in a solid or partially molten state, rather than from a melt.13

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