A mafic rock is a term generally used by geologists to describe a chemical composition of minerals and the rocks in which these minerals can be found. Its name is derived from the word “ma” which means magnesium and “ferric” which means iron in Latin. If an igneous rock has a very high percentage of mafic minerals and magmas, it will then crystallize a great amount of mafic minerals.
Common examples of mafic minerals include pyroxene, olivine, biotite and olivine while common examples of mafic rocks are gabbro and basalt. Although mafic has a similarity with felsic in terms of both having the same distinguishable source – igneous rock and silicate minerals – mafic differs in terms of its high mineral percentage.
