rhyolite
Silica-rich volcanic rock
Rhyolite is a fine-grained volcanic rock, the extrusive equivalent of granite.
It forms when silica-rich magma cools rapidly at or near the Earth's surface, producing a light-colored rock often with a glassy or banded texture.
Rhyolite eruptions tend to be explosive due to the magma's high viscosity: The ancient caldera was surrounded by rhyolite cliffs.
Erupted liquid stone
- pumiceLightweight volcanic abrasive
- obsidianGlassy igneous rock
- eruptionViolent sudden release
- pyroclasticHot eruption debris
caldera · magma · ash · lava dome · flow · viscosity · silica-rich · tuff
Crystalline silicon dioxide
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
- biotiteIron-rich layered silicate
- silica-richHigh silicon dioxide content
- groundmassRock's fine-grained foundation
microcrystalline · glassy · crystalline · matrix · mineralogy · alkali
Igneous rock, quartz-rich
- andesiteIntermediate volcanic rock
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- dioriteFeldspar-hornblende igneous rock
- gabbroDark intrusive igneous rock
tuff · batholith · dike · sill · intrusive · extrusive · plutonic · magmatic
Smooth and shiny
- vesicularHaving small sacs
- bandedHaving encircling marks
- fine-grainedComposed of minute particles
- frothyFull of foam
lava
Erupted liquid stone
pyroclastic · caldera · magma · ash · lava dome · flow · viscosity · silica-rich · tuff · volcano
quartz
Crystalline silicon dioxide
- feldsparSilicate mineral group
- biotiteIron-rich layered silicate
- silica-richHigh silicon dioxide content
groundmass · microcrystalline · glassy · crystalline · matrix · mineralogy · alkali
granite
Igneous rock, quartz-rich
- andesiteIntermediate volcanic rock
- basaltFine-grained volcanic stone
- dioriteFeldspar-hornblende igneous rock
gabbro · tuff · batholith · dike · sill · intrusive · extrusive · plutonic · magmatic · intermediate
glassy
Smooth and shiny
- vesicularHaving small sacs
- bandedHaving encircling marks
- fine-grainedComposed of minute particles