Question

___________ minerals are dark-colored because they contain _____________. a. Mafic; iron and/or magnesium b. Felsic; iron and/or magnesium c. Mafic; calcium, sodium, or potassium d. Felsic; calcium, sodium, or potassium

Answer 1

Answer:

A. Mafic; iron and/or magnesium

Explanation:

Let's find the answer by naming some minerals and their chemistry.

Mafic minerals are dark-colored whereas felsic minerals are light-colored, thats way mafic rocks are dark-colored because they are mainly composed by mafic minerals and the other way around for felsic rocks.

But remember that mafic minerals as amphiboles, pyroxenes or biotites, involve in their chemical structure iron and/or magnesium. Although calcium and sodium can be incorporated in amphiboles and clinopyroxenes, they are not involved in orthopyroxenes and biotites. On the other hand, although potassium is involved in biotite and in some extent in amphiboles, this element is not involved in pyroxenes.

So in conclusion, mafic minerals are usually dark-colored because they involve iron and/or magnesium in their chemical structures.