oversaturated rock
Quick Summary
In geology, an "oversaturated rock" refers to a rock that contains more silica than is needed to form its constituent silicate minerals. This excess silica typically crystallizes as quartz or its related forms.1
Rocks are classified based on their silica content:
* Felsic (or silicic): More than 66% silica.
* Intermediate: 55% to 66% silica.
* Subsilicic: Less than 55% silica, further divided into:
* Mafic: 45% to 55% silica.
* Ultramafic: Less than 45% silica.
Oversaturated rocks, which contain excess silica, are generally considered saturated or supersaturated. This contrasts with undersaturated rocks, which contain minerals like nepheline or leucite that require less silica.1
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.
