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Gabbro

A rock classification type
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About GabbroHide

A gabbroid composed of 10-90% Ca-dominant plagioclase and >5% clinopyroxene.
A group of basic intrusive igneous rocks composed principally of basic plagioclase (commonly labradorite or bytownite) and clinopyroxene (augite), with or without olivine and orthopyroxene; also, any member of that group. It is the approximate coarse-grained/intrusive equivalent of basalt. Apatite, magnetite, and ilmenite are common accessory minerals. Commonly dark-colored.


Unique IdentifiersHide

Mindat ID:
48275
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:48275:0

Similar NamesHide

Classification of GabbroHide

QAPF_P_10.png

Gabbro is in section 10 of the QAPF diagram.

Sub-divisions of GabbroHide

Mineralogy of GabbroHide

Essential minerals - these are minerals that are required within the classification of this rock:
Feldspar > Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
Mafic mineralsA petrological term for dark, rock-forming minerals rich in magnesium and/or iron.
Non-essential minerals - these minerals are common, sometimes major components, but are not always present:
Amphibole > HornblendeAnCa2(Z2+5-mZ3+m)(Si8-(n+m)Al(n+m))(OH,F,Cl)2
Mica > BiotiteK(Fe2+/Mg)2(Al/Fe3+/Mg/Ti)([Si/Al/Fe]2Si2O10)(OH/F)2

Age distributionHide

Recorded ages:
Neochaotian to Quaternary : ~4600 Ma to 0 Ma - based on 23 recorded ages.
Sample ages:
Sample IDRecorded ageGeologic TimeDating method
112.8 ± 1.3 MaMioceneK-Ar
216 ± 1 MaMioceneK-Ar
343 ± 2 MaEoceneK-Ar
453.1 ± 4.2 to 44 ± 2 MaEoceneK-Ar for the gabbro
590 ± 2 MaLate/Upper CretaceousK-Ar
692.5 ± 3 to 83 ± 3 MaLate/Upper CretaceousK-Ar
7125 MaEarly/Lower CretaceousK-Ar
8130 to 124 MaEarly/Lower CretaceousK-Ar
9136 ± 4 to 110 ± 9 MaEarly/Lower CretaceousK-Ar
10140 ± 3 to 135 ± 3 MaEarly/Lower CretaceousK-Ar
11229 ± 5 MaLate/Upper TriassicK-Ar
12258.8 ± 2.3 MaLopingianU-Pb zircon from gabbro
13261 ± 2 MaGuadalupianU-Pb
14305.9 ± 3.5 MaPennsylvanianRe-Os
15419.2 ± 3.2 to 358.9 ± 0.4 MaDevonian
162701 ± 8 MaNeoarcheanSm-Nd
17~4600 to 541 ± 1.0 MaPrecambrian
Sample references:
IDLocalityReferenceNotes
1Inaccessible Island, Tristan da Cunha Archipelago, Saint Helena, Ascension and Tristan da Cunha
2Campbell Island, Campbell Island group, New Zealand Outlying Islands, New Zealand
3Nlonako Intrusion, Littoral Region, Cameroon
4Dorrel Rock, Marie Byrd Land, West Antarctica, Antarctica
5
6Zidarovo complex, Zidarovo, Sozopol Municipality, Burgas Province, Bulgaria
7Doros Intrusion, Khorixas, Kunene Region, Namibia
8  "  "from the inner ring dike
9Qarnei Ramon, Makhtesh Ramon, Ramat Negev Regional Council, Beersheba Subdistrict, Southern District, Israel11 samples of gabbroic rocks from the main laccolith
10Nigrub El Fogani Complex, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
11El Gezira Complex, Red Sea Governorate, Egypt
12Taihe intrusion, Xichang County, Liangshan Yi, Sichuan, China
13Baima V-Ti-Fe deposit, Miyi County, Panzhihua, Sichuan, China
14Huangshandong Cu-Ni-PGE deposit, Huangshan-Jing'erquan ore belt, Yizhou District, Hami Prefecture, Xinjiang, China
15Lizard Complex, Cornwall, England, UK
16Stillwater Complex, Montana, USA
17Purimetla, Prakasam District, Andhra Pradesh, India

Chemical AnalysisHide

Oxide wt%:
 123
SiO246.8 %43.18 %34.14 %
Al2O315.3 %15.85 %13.4 %
Fe2O312.5 %2.00 %2.00 %
MnO0.14 %0.21 %0.19 %
MgO5.2 %5.31 %9.63 %
CaO6.43 %11.18 %13.05 %
Na2O2.91 %3.92 %2.21 %
K2O0.36 %1.73 %0.72 %
TiO22.9 %3.98 %5.27 %
P2O50.53 %1.07 %1.77 %
LOI6.7 %
FeO10.4 %15.86 %
Total:99.77 %98.83 %98.24 %

Synonyms of GabbroHide

Other Language Names for GabbroHide

Irish Gaelic:Gabró

Common AssociatesHide

Associations Based on Photo Data:
7 photos of Gabbro associated with Plagioclase(Na,Ca)[(Si,Al)AlSi2]O8
6 photos of Gabbro associated with Pyroxene GroupADSi2O6
4 photos of Gabbro associated with 'Diallage'
3 photos of Gabbro associated with QuartzSiO2
2 photos of Gabbro associated with Epidote(CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH)
2 photos of Gabbro associated with LaumontiteCaAl2Si4O12 · 4H2O
2 photos of Gabbro associated with PyriteFeS2
1 photo of Gabbro associated with DiopsideCaMgSi2O6
1 photo of Gabbro associated with CalciteCaCO3
1 photo of Gabbro associated with Amphibole SupergroupAB2C5(T8O22)W2

Internet Links for GabbroHide

References for GabbroHide

 
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