1.8" Natural Gabbro Polished Palm Stone Mineral Calcium Plagioclase Madagascar
Location: Madagascar
Weight: 2.1 Ounces
Dimensions: 1.8 Inches Long, 1.5 Inches Wide, 0.9 Inches Thick
The item pictured is the one you will receive.
Gabbro
Gabbro is a coarse-grained, dark-colored intrusive igneous rock that forms from the slow cooling of magnesium-rich and iron-rich magma deep beneath the Earth’s surface. Its mineral composition is similar to basalt; however, unlike basalt’s fine-grained texture resulting from rapid cooling, gabbro exhibits a much coarser texture due to its slower cooling rate.
Mineral Composition
The primary minerals found in gabbro include:
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Plagioclase Feldspar: Typically calcium-rich, often occurring as labradorite or bytownite. Plagioclase constitutes a significant portion of gabbro’s mineral content.
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Pyroxene: The most common type is clinopyroxene, usually augite. Some gabbros may also contain orthopyroxene.
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Olivine: Present in certain types of gabbro, especially olivine-rich varieties, though not always found in all specimens.
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Accessory Minerals: Minor amounts of hornblende (in hornblende gabbros), biotite, magnetite, ilmenite, and apatite may be present.
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Quartz and Feldspathoids: In specific subtypes, such as quartz gabbros or foid-bearing gabbros, small amounts of quartz or feldspathoids may occur.
This combination of minerals gives gabbro its characteristic dark color, coarse texture, and durability, making it an important rock in both geological studies and construction applications.
