Geol. of or pertaining to igneous rocks that are rich in dark-colored minerals and that contain magnesium and iron and a comparatively low level of silica
Origin of mafic
ma(gnesium) + Classical Latin f(errum), iron + -icmafic
maf·icWebster's New World College Dictionary, Fifth Edition Copyright © 2014 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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"mafic." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 27 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mafic>.
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mafic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mafic
mafic
adjective
Relating to or containing a group of dark-colored silicate minerals, composed chiefly of magnesium and iron, that occur in igneous rocks, including hornblende, pyroxene, olivine, and biotite.
Origin of mafic
ma(gnesium) Latin f(errum) iron -icTHE AMERICAN HERITAGE® DICTIONARY OF THE ENGLISH LANGUAGE, FIFTH EDITION by the Editors of the American Heritage Dictionaries. Copyright © 2016, 2011 by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. Published by Houghton Mifflin Harcourt Publishing Company. All rights reserved.
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MLA Style
"mafic." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 27 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mafic>.
APA Style
mafic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mafic
Relating to an igneous rock that contains a group of dark-colored minerals, composed chiefly of magnesium and iron.
Compare felsic
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MLA Style
"mafic." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 27 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mafic>.
APA Style
mafic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mafic
Adjective
(comparative more mafic, superlative most mafic)
Noun
(plural mafics)
- A rock with such properties.
English Wiktionary. Available under CC-BY-SA license.
Link to this page
Cite this page
MLA Style
"mafic." YourDictionary, n.d. Web. 27 February 2019. <https://www.yourdictionary.com/mafic>.
APA Style
mafic. (n.d.). Retrieved February 27th, 2019, from https://www.yourdictionary.com/mafic
