Continental rifts typically contain large amounts of basalt and rhyolite. Your answer to Exercise 5.10b explained the origin of the basalt, but fractional crystallization of mafic magma can produce only a very small amount of felsic magma. Explain the origin of the large volumes of felsic magma in continental rifts.

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
9th Edition
ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
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Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
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5.5.4 Plate-Tectonic Settings of Felsic Rocks
(Granite and Rhyolite)
Granite and rhyolite are most abundant on the continents-in continental volcanic
arcs, continental collision zones, continental rifts, and continental hot spots. They
form largely by partial melting of the upper (granitic) layer of continental litho-
sphere and to a lesser extent by differentiation of mafic magmas. Some rhyolite
and granite forms in subduction zones by differentiation of mafic and intermedi-
ate magmas or by assimilation. Only very small amounts of felsic igneous rock are
found in the oceans, mostly rhyolite in oceanic hot-spot islands, formed by extreme
fractional crystallization.
EXERCISE 5.12
Origin of Granite and Rhyolite in Continental Rifts
Name:
Section:
Course:
Date:
Continental rifts typically contain large amounts of basalt and rhyolite. Your answer to Exercise 5.10b explained the origin
of the basalt, but fractional crystallization of mafic magma can produce only a very small amount of felsic magma. Explain
the origin of the large volumes of felsic magma in continental rifts.
5.5 IGNEOUS ROCKS AND PLATE TECTONICS
131
Transcribed Image Text:5.5.4 Plate-Tectonic Settings of Felsic Rocks (Granite and Rhyolite) Granite and rhyolite are most abundant on the continents-in continental volcanic arcs, continental collision zones, continental rifts, and continental hot spots. They form largely by partial melting of the upper (granitic) layer of continental litho- sphere and to a lesser extent by differentiation of mafic magmas. Some rhyolite and granite forms in subduction zones by differentiation of mafic and intermedi- ate magmas or by assimilation. Only very small amounts of felsic igneous rock are found in the oceans, mostly rhyolite in oceanic hot-spot islands, formed by extreme fractional crystallization. EXERCISE 5.12 Origin of Granite and Rhyolite in Continental Rifts Name: Section: Course: Date: Continental rifts typically contain large amounts of basalt and rhyolite. Your answer to Exercise 5.10b explained the origin of the basalt, but fractional crystallization of mafic magma can produce only a very small amount of felsic magma. Explain the origin of the large volumes of felsic magma in continental rifts. 5.5 IGNEOUS ROCKS AND PLATE TECTONICS 131
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