felsic

American  

[fel-sik] / ˈfɛl sɪk /

adjective

Geology.

1. (of rocks) consisting chiefly of feldspars, feldspathoids, quartz, and other light-colored minerals.

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felsic Scientific  

/ fĕl′sĭk /

1. Relating to an igneous rock that contains a group of light-colored silicate minerals, including feldspar, feldspathoid, quartz, and muscovite.

2. Compare mafic

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Etymology

Origin of felsic

First recorded in 1910–15; fel(dspar) + s(ilica) + -ic

Compare meaning

How does felsic compare to similar and commonly confused words? Explore the most common comparisons:

• mafic vs. felsic

Example Sentences

Figure 3.12 The chemical compositions of typical mafic, intermediate, and felsic magmas and the types of rocks that form from them.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

There it contributes to partial melting of crustal rock, and thus it assimilates much more felsic material.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

St. Helens imply that the magma chamber is zoned, from more felsic at the top to more mafic at the bottom.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Composite volcanoes are normally associated with subduction, and while their magma tends to be intermediate on average, it can range all the way from felsic to mafic.

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015

Explain why nickel deposits are associated only with mafic magma and not with intermediate or felsic magma?

From Textbooks • Jan. 1, 2015