felsic
Americanadjective
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Relating to an igneous rock that contains a group of light-colored silicate minerals, including feldspar, feldspathoid, quartz, and muscovite.
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Compare mafic
Etymology
Origin of felsic
First recorded in 1910–15; fel(dspar) + s(ilica) + -ic
Compare meaning
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Example Sentences
Examples are provided to illustrate real-world usage of words in context. Any opinions expressed do not reflect the views of Dictionary.com.
At subduction zones, the average magma composition is likely to be close to intermediate, but as we’ve seen, magma chambers can become zoned and so compositions ranging from felsic to mafic are possible.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015
Second, felsic magmas tend to have higher levels of volatiles; that is, components that behave as gases during volcanic eruptions.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015
The means that the overall composition of the magma near the top of the magma chamber will become more felsic, as it is losing some iron- and magnesium-rich components.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015
First, as we’ve already discussed, felsic magmas tend to be more viscous because they have more silica, and hence more polymerization.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015
From the perspective of volcanism there are some important differences between felsic and mafic magmas.
From Textbooks ● Jan. 1, 2015
Definitions and idiom definitions from Dictionary.com Unabridged, based on the Random House Unabridged Dictionary, © Random House, Inc. 2023
Idioms from The American Heritage® Idioms Dictionary copyright © 2002, 2001, 1995 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company.
