What is diorite?
Q: What is diorite?
A: Diorite is a melted rock that has cooled made mostly of the silicate minerals (materials made of silicon and oxygen). It is usually grey to dark-grey in color, but it can also be black or bluish-grey, and often has a greenish cast.
Q: How does diorite differ from gabbro (basalt)?
A: Diorite differs from gabbro (basalt) because the materials in diorite have more sodium and less calcium.
Q: Does diorite contain quartz?
A: Yes, diorite may have small amounts of quartz, microcline, and olivine. Tiny amounts of muscovite may also be found. If there is a lot of quartz it makes the rock type quartz-diorite (>5% quartz) or tonalite (>20% quartz).
Q: What does diorites texture look like?
A: Diorites texture is speckled with coarse grain size.
Q: Where are diorites commonly produced?
A: Diorites are commonly produced in volcanic arcs, and in cordilleran mountain building such as in the Andes Mountains as large batholiths.
Q: What is the extrusive volcanic equivalent rock type for doriate?
A: The extrusive volcanic equivalent rock type for doriate is andesite.
Q: How does doriate form?
A: Doriate forms when partial melting occurs above an area where two tectonic plates merge under each other.
