Earth's rock-solid connections between Canada and Australia contain clues about the origin of life
Thursday, June 18, 2020 - 09:01
in Earth & Climate
The rocks at the surface of the modern Earth are broadly divided into two types: felsic and mafic. Felsic rocks are generally relatively low density—for a rock—and light in color because they are made from whitish minerals rich in silicon and aluminum. Half Dome in California is made of granite that is a felsic rock. Mafic rocks, in contrast, are relatively high in density and dark in color because they contain minerals rich in iron and magnesium; Giants Causeway in Northern Ireland is made of basalt, which is a mafic rock.