mafic
|ma-fic|
/ˈmeɪfɪk/
rich in magnesium and iron
Etymology
'mafic' is a coined blend in English, formed from 'magnesium' + 'ferric' (from Latin 'ferrum' meaning 'iron'), where the 'ma-' element comes from 'magnesium' and the '-fic' element is from 'ferric'.
'mafic' was coined in the 20th century as a shorthand blend of 'magnesium' and 'ferric' for use in petrology and did not evolve from an older English or medieval form; it entered geological usage as a technical term for compositionally magnesium- and iron-rich rocks.
Initially coined to denote rocks or minerals high in magnesium and iron, the term has largely retained that specialized geological meaning and is used as a standard compositional descriptor in igneous petrology.
Meanings by Part of Speech
Adjective 1
in geology, describing silicate minerals, magmas, and igneous rocks that are relatively rich in magnesium and iron (and correspondingly poor in silica and aluminum).
Mafic rocks such as basalt are rich in iron and magnesium.
Synonyms
Antonyms
Last updated: 2025/11/02 20:09