igneous
Gabbro
Mafic intrusive igneous rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 6 on Mohs scale, dark green to black color, submetallic to vitreous luster, phaneritic texture with visible plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene crystals.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6 on Mohs scale, dark green to black color, submetallic to vitreous luster, phaneritic texture with visible plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene crystals.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the slow cooling of magnesium- and iron-rich magma beneath the Earth's surface.
Uses & applications
Used as crushed stone for construction, dimension stone, and architectural facing under the trade name "black granite".
Geological facts
Gabbro is the most abundant rock type in the oceanic crust and is chemically equivalent to basalt.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its coarse-grained dark appearance and the presence of pale plagioclase laths mixed with dark pyroxene; found globally in layered intrusions and ocean ridges.
