Komatiite
A rock classification type
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About Komatiite
Name:
Named for the locality: Komati River, Barberton, Transvaal, South Africa.
A variety of ultramafic lavas that crystallize from high temperature magmas with 18% to 32% MgO. They often form pillows and have chilled flow-tops and usually display well-developed spinifex textures with intergrown skeletal and bladed olivine and pyroxene crystals set in abundant glass. The more highly magnesian varieties are often termed peridotitic komatiite. Now defined chemically in the TAS classification.
These rocks are mostly Archaean, and nearly always altered to serpentine and/or carbonate-rich metakomatiites.
These rocks are mostly Archaean, and nearly always altered to serpentine and/or carbonate-rich metakomatiites.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
48568
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:48568:7
Classification of Komatiite
Sub-divisions of Komatiite
- Komatiite
Mineralogy of Komatiite
Essential minerals - these are minerals that are required within the classification of this rock:
| Olivine | M2SiO4 |
Non-essential minerals - these minerals are common, sometimes major components, but are not always present:
| Pyroxene | ADSi2O6 |
Internet Links for Komatiite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-48568.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
References for Komatiite
Reference List:
Cue Shire, Western Australia, Australia