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  • Intrusive vs. Extrusive Mafic Rocks: A Comprehensive Guide
    Mafic rocks can be both intrusive and extrusive. Here's why:

    * Intrusive Mafic Rocks: These form when magma cools and crystallizes slowly beneath the Earth's surface. Examples include:

    * Gabbro: Coarse-grained, dark-colored intrusive rock.

    * Diorite: A somewhat lighter-colored intrusive rock with both mafic and felsic minerals.

    * Extrusive Mafic Rocks: These form when lava erupts onto the Earth's surface and cools rapidly. Examples include:

    * Basalt: Fine-grained, dark-colored extrusive rock, often found in volcanic flows.

    * Scoria: Vesicular (with holes) extrusive rock, common in volcanic eruptions.

    The key difference between intrusive and extrusive rocks lies in the cooling rate of the magma/lava:

    * Intrusive: Slow cooling allows for larger mineral crystals to form.

    * Extrusive: Rapid cooling results in smaller, more tightly packed crystals.

    Therefore, mafic rocks can exist in both intrusive and extrusive forms, depending on where and how the magma/lava cools.

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