TERMIUM Plus®

The Government of Canada’s terminology and linguistic data bank.

MAFIC MINERAL [7 records]

Record 1 2021-07-14

English

Subject field(s)
  • Petrography
Universal entry(ies)
(Na,Ca)2(Mg,Al)(Si,Al)2O7
formula, see observation
DEF

An extrusive rock that is generally olivine-free and composed of more than 90% mafic mineral such as melilite and augite, with minor amounts of feldspathoids and sometimes plagioclase.

OBS

Chemical formula: (Na,Ca)2(Mg,Al)(Si,Al)2O7

French

Domaine(s)
  • Pétrographie
Entrée(s) universelle(s)
(Na,Ca)2(Mg,Al)(Si,Al)2O7
formula, see observation
DEF

Roche extrusive ou hypoabyssale composée surtout de pyroxènes (augite titanifère) et de mélilite.

OBS

Formule chimique : (Na,Ca)2(Mg,Al)(Si,Al)2O7

Spanish

Save record 1

Record 2 2011-01-13

English

Subject field(s)
  • Petrography
  • Geochemistry
DEF

[An] igneous rock consisting essentially of ferromagnesian minerals to the virtual exclusion of quartz, feldspar, and feldspathoids.

CONT

Economic deposits of the mineral chromite are almost universally associated with mafic or ultra-mafic rocks.

OBS

Originally defined as rocks containing less than 45% silica, this artificial boundary has now been abandoned as a result of the recognition of many rock types which while undoubtedly ultrabasic by other tests, contain more than 45% silica ...

OBS

According to the source MROCK, 1985 (Richard Scott Mitchell, Dictionary of Rocks), the terms "ultramafic rock" and "ultrabasic rock" are nearly synonymous. They differ in that ultrabasic rocks contain little or no feldspar while ultramafic rocks contain no feldspar.

OBS

As a noun, the term "ultramafic" is used in the plural.

OBS

ultramafics: term used at Natural Resources Canada - Earth Sciences Sector.

Key term(s)
  • ultra-basic rock
  • ultra basic rock
  • ultra mafic rock
  • ultra-basite
  • ultra basite
  • ultra-mafite
  • ultra mafite
  • ultra-mafics
  • ultra mafics

French

Domaine(s)
  • Pétrographie
  • Géochimie
DEF

Roche magmatique mélanocrate à holomélanocrate pauvre en silice (SiO2 <45 %) et riche en calcium, fer et magnésium, constituée essentiellement d'un ou plusieurs minéraux ferromagnésiens (péridot, pyroxène, amphibole).

OBS

La notion d'acidité, quelque peu ambiguë pour les roches, a été introduite au milieu du siècle dernier par Élie de Beaumont qui, en fonction de la teneur en SiO2, distingue les roches acides [plus de 65 %], les roches intermédiaires [entre 52 et 65 %], les roches basiques [entre 45 et 52 %] et les roches ultra-basiques [moins de 45 %].

OBS

ultramafite : terme en usage à Ressources naturelles Canada - Secteur des sciences de la Terre.

Key term(s)
  • roche ultra basique
  • ultra-basite
  • ultra basite
  • roche ultra-mafique
  • roche ultra mafique
  • ultra-mafite
  • ultra mafite
  • ultra-mafitite
  • ultra mafitite

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Petrografía
  • Geoquímica
Save record 2

Record 3 2009-01-07

English

Subject field(s)
  • Petrography
CONT

Low grade metamorphic facies, established in the 50's and 60's, were defined by mineral assemblages which develop in mafic rock compositions.

OBS

low-grade metamorphic facies: term used at Natural Resources Canada - Earth Sciences Sector.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Pétrographie
CONT

[...] la majorité de ces études concerne des gisements mis en place au faciès métamorphique faible (schistes verts) et dans des zones de cisaillement ductiles-cassantes, juste après le pic métamorphique régional.

OBS

faciès de métamorphisme faible : terme en usage à Ressources naturelles Canada - Secteur des sciences de la Terre.

Spanish

Save record 3

Record 4 2004-12-10

English

Subject field(s)
  • Petrography
DEF

A coarse-grained plutonic rock containing labradorite as the chief constituent and differing from gabbro by the presence of hypersthene as the dominant mafic mineral.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Pétrographie
DEF

Gabbro à hypersthène, particulièrement alumineux (nodules de cordiérite, spinelles, etc.).

Spanish

Campo(s) temático(s)
  • Petrografía
DEF

Variedad de gabro que contiene hiperstena, especialmente espinelas y nódulos de cordierita.

Save record 4

Record 5 2003-11-17

English

Subject field(s)
  • Mineralogy
CONT

The occurrence of chromitites in which chromite is the only cumulus mineral is problematic because chromite is not expected to be the sole liquidus phase during the normal course of fractional crystallization of mafic or ultramafic magma.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Minéralogie
CONT

L'existence de chromitites dans lesquelles la chromite constitue l'unique minéral de la phase cumulus est problématique parce qu'on ne s'attendrait pas à ce que la chromite soit la seule phase à atteindre le liquidus au cours d'un processus normal de cristallisation fractionnée d'un magma mafique ou ultramafique.

Spanish

Save record 5

Record 6 2003-11-17

English

Subject field(s)
  • Mineralogy
CONT

The occurrence of chromitites in which chromite is the only cumulus mineral is problematic because chromite is not expected to be the sole liquidus phase during the normal course of fractional crystallization of mafic or ultramafic magma.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Minéralogie
CONT

L'existence de chromitites dans lesquelles la chromite constitue l'unique minéral de la phase cumulus est problématique parce qu'on ne s'attendrait pas à ce que la chromite soit la seule phase à atteindre le liquidus au cours d'un processus normal de cristallisation fractionnée d'un magma mafique ou ultramafique.

Spanish

Save record 6

Record 7 1978-04-18

English

Subject field(s)
  • Geology
OBS

In coarse-grained gabbros and their medium-grained equivalents, the microgabbros, the chief mineral is plagioclase more calcic than Ab, An, ;the typical mafic constituents, in order of abundance are augite, hypersthene, and olivine.

French

Domaine(s)
  • Géologie
OBS

"Microsyénites", "microdiorites" (...), "microgabbros".

Spanish

Save record 7

Copyright notice for the TERMIUM Plus® data bank

© Public Services and Procurement Canada, 2025
TERMIUM Plus®, the Government of Canada's terminology and linguistic data bank
A product of the Translation Bureau

Features

Language Portal of Canada

Access a collection of Canadian resources on all aspects of English and French, including quizzes.

Writing tools

The Language Portal’s writing tools have a new look! Easy to consult, they give you access to a wealth of information that will help you write better in English and French.

Glossaries and vocabularies

Access Translation Bureau glossaries and vocabularies.

Date Modified: