2.1" Natural Gabbro Polished Palm Stone Mineral Calcium Plagioclase Madagascar

Location: Madagascar

Weight: 3.4 Ounces 

Dimensions: 2.1 Inches Long, 1.7 Inches Wide, 0.9 Inches Thick

The item pictured is the one you will receive. 

Gabbro is a coarse-grained, intrusive igneous rock characterized by its dark color and phaneritic texture. Formed from the slow cooling of magnesium and iron-rich magma deep underground, its primary composition includes calcium-rich plagioclase feldspar (like labradorite) and pyroxene (typically augite). Often containing olivine and accessory minerals like magnetite, gabbro is the intrusive equivalent of basalt. This hand-selected specimen showcases the rock's classic granular texture and is ideal for educational collections, geological study, or decorative use. A fundamental rock type for understanding igneous processes and the composition of the oceanic crust.

Mineral Composition
The primary minerals found in gabbro include:

1. Plagioclase Feldspar: This is typically calcium-rich plagioclase, often in the form of labradorite or bytownite. Plagioclase makes up a significant portion of gabbro’s mineral content.

2. Pyroxene: The most common type is clinopyroxene, usually augite. Pyroxenes can also include orthopyroxene, particularly in specific varieties of gabbro.

3. Olivine: While not always present, olivine can be found in some types of gabbro, particularly those classified as olivine gabbros.

4. Accessory Minerals: Gabbro may also contain minor amounts of other minerals such as hornblende (in hornblende gabbros), biotite, magnetite, ilmenite, and apatite.

5. Quartz and Feldspathoids: In certain subtypes like quartz gabbros or foid-bearing gabbros, small amounts of quartz or feldspathoids may be present.