Continental rifts typically contain large amounts of basalt and rhyolite. Your answer to Exercise 5.10b explained the origin of the basalt, but fractional crystallization of mafic magma can produce only a very small amount of felsic magma. Explain the origin of the large volumes of felsic magma in continental rifts.

Applications and Investigations in Earth Science (9th Edition)
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ISBN:9780134746241
Author:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Publisher:Edward J. Tarbuck, Frederick K. Lutgens, Dennis G. Tasa
Chapter1: The Study Of Minerals
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## 5.5.4 Plate-Tectonic Settings of Felsic Rocks (Granite and Rhyolite)

Granite and rhyolite are most abundant on the continents—in continental volcanic arcs, continental collision zones, continental rifts, and continental hot spots. They form largely by partial melting of the upper (granitic) layer of continental lithosphere and to a lesser extent by differentiation of mafic magmas. Some rhyolite and granite forms in subduction zones by differentiation of mafic and intermediate magmas or by assimilation. Only very small amounts of felsic igneous rock are found in the oceans, mostly rhyolite in oceanic hot-spot islands, formed by extreme fractional crystallization.

### Exercise 5.12: Origin of Granite and Rhyolite in Continental Rifts

Name: ____________________________________ 

Course: ____________________________________

Section: __________ Date: _________________

Continental rifts typically contain large amounts of basalt and rhyolite. Your answer to Exercise 5.10b explained the origin of the basalt, but fractional crystallization of mafic magma can produce only a very small amount of felsic magma. Explain the origin of the large volumes of felsic magma in continental rifts.

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

______________________________________________________________________________

(Page reference: 131, Chapter 5.5: Igneous Rocks and Plate Tectonics)
Transcribed Image Text:## 5.5.4 Plate-Tectonic Settings of Felsic Rocks (Granite and Rhyolite) Granite and rhyolite are most abundant on the continents—in continental volcanic arcs, continental collision zones, continental rifts, and continental hot spots. They form largely by partial melting of the upper (granitic) layer of continental lithosphere and to a lesser extent by differentiation of mafic magmas. Some rhyolite and granite forms in subduction zones by differentiation of mafic and intermediate magmas or by assimilation. Only very small amounts of felsic igneous rock are found in the oceans, mostly rhyolite in oceanic hot-spot islands, formed by extreme fractional crystallization. ### Exercise 5.12: Origin of Granite and Rhyolite in Continental Rifts Name: ____________________________________ Course: ____________________________________ Section: __________ Date: _________________ Continental rifts typically contain large amounts of basalt and rhyolite. Your answer to Exercise 5.10b explained the origin of the basalt, but fractional crystallization of mafic magma can produce only a very small amount of felsic magma. Explain the origin of the large volumes of felsic magma in continental rifts. ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ ______________________________________________________________________________ (Page reference: 131, Chapter 5.5: Igneous Rocks and Plate Tectonics)
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