Why Does Basalt Have Smaller Crystals Than Granite

Cools more slowly and crystals are bigger which means they are coarse grained.

Why does basalt have smaller crystals than granite.

Among other differences the nature of these rocks reveals that basalt is basic in nature whereas granite is acidic in nature. Under the ground so they cools slow and that s why they have large crystals. This slow cooling gives time for crystals to grow making it more coarsely grained than an extrusive rock. This coarse grain makes granite a favorite of rock climbers.

Basalt is basic and contains a substantial amount of olivine whereas granite is acidic and is rich in quartz basalt is an extrusive igneous rock with small mineral crystals formed when magma. Basalt forms when magma cools and solidifies on the surface of the earth. Basalt on the other hand has a smooth texture from rapid cooling usually by water. Gabbro cooled slowly and is entirely composed of large larger crystals without any glassy or very fine grained rock material.

It mainly occurs on the floor of the ocean as magma solidifies quickly coming in contact with cool ocean water. Fossils are only found in. Why does rhyolite have smaller crystals than granite. The difference is the texture.

How can you distinguish basalt from a sill or buried lava flow. Crystals have more time to grow to larger size. These extrusive rocks are formed from magma at or above the surface of the planet and generally display smaller mineral crystals or. Basalt cooled quickly and is therefore fine grained to even glassy with or without phenocrysts individual large crystals.

Yes because granite is a slow cooling rock therefore the crystals have a lot of time to form while basalt is a fast cooling rock therefore thecrystals don t have much time to form and develop. They cools so fast and that s why they have small crystals than granite. Granite is an intrusive rock that is formed when magma cools inside the crust.