1.7" Natural Gabbro Polished Palm Stone Mineral Calcium Plagioclase Madagascar
Location: Madagascar
Weight: 1.8 Ounces
Dimensions: 1.7 Inches Long, 1.4 Inches Wide, 0.8 Inches Thick
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Gabbro is a coarse-grained, dark-colored intrusive igneous rock primarily composed of minerals such as plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene. It forms from the slow cooling of magnesium-rich and iron-rich magma deep beneath the Earth’s surface. The mineral composition of gabbro is similar to that of basalt, but while basalt is fine-grained due to rapid cooling, gabbro exhibits a much coarser texture because it cools slowly.
Mineral Composition
The primary minerals found in gabbro include:
-
Plagioclase Feldspar: This is typically calcium-rich plagioclase, often in the form of labradorite or bytownite. Plagioclase makes up a significant portion of gabbro’s mineral content.
-
Pyroxene: The most common type is clinopyroxene, usually augite. Pyroxenes can also include orthopyroxene, particularly in specific varieties of gabbro.
-
Olivine: While not always present, olivine can be found in some types of gabbro, particularly those classified as olivine gabbros.
-
Accessory Minerals: Gabbro may also contain minor amounts of other minerals such as hornblende (in hornblende gabbros), biotite, magnetite, ilmenite, and apatite.
-
Quartz and Feldspathoids: In certain subtypes like quartz gabbros or foid-bearing gabbros, small amounts of quartz or feldspathoids may be present.
