Latite

Latite

Latite

Type of volcanic rock

Latite is an igneous, volcanic rock, with aphanitic-aphyric to aphyric-porphyritic texture. Its mineral assemblage is usually alkali feldspar and plagioclase in approximately equal amounts. Quartz is less than five percent and is absent in a feldspathoid-bearing latite, and olivine is absent in a quartz-bearing latite. When quartz content is greater than five percent the rock is classified as quartz latite.[1] Biotite, hornblende, pyroxene and scarce olivine or quartz are common accessory minerals. Feldspathoid-bearing latite is sometimes referred to as tristanite.[2]

Quick Facts
Photomicrograph of thin section of latite (in plane polarised light)
Photomicrograph of thin section of latite (in cross polarised light)

Rhomb porphyries are an unusual variety with gray-white porphyritic rhomb shaped phenocrysts embedded in a very fine grained red-brown matrix. The composition of rhomb porphyry places it in the trachyte - latite classification of the QAPF diagram.

Latite is found, for example, as lavas in Bulgaria[3] and as intrusive laccoliths and sills in South Dakota, USA.[4]

See also

References

  1. [1]
    Classification of Igneous Rocks Archived 2011-09-30 at the Wayback Machine
  2. [2]
    Philpotts, Anthony R.; Ague, Jay J. (2009). Principles of igneous and metamorphic petrology (2nd ed.). Cambridge University Press. p. 140-141. ISBN 9780521880060.
  3. [3]
    Georgiev, V.; Milovanov, P. (2001). "Volcanism in the Momchilgrad Volcanotectonic Depression". Comptes rendus de l'Académie bulgare des Sciences. 54 (3): 63–66. Bibcode:2001CRABS..54c..63G. Retrieved on 5 July 2015.
  4. [4]
    "Latitic Intrusive Rocks". USGS. Retrieved 5 July 2015.
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