mafic

/ˈma-fik/ (ame, mw)

mafic — adjective

  • maficpositive
  • more maficcomparative
  • most maficsuperlative

1. describing minerals or rocks that are often dark because they contain a lot of m

1.形容詞C2
釋義

describing minerals or rocks that are often dark because they contain a lot of magnesium and iron

例句

Near the volcano, the mafic lava cooled into a dark rock.

collocation: mafic lava

Jiwoo held a tray of mafic minerals during the lab.

collocation: mafic minerals

同義詞
  • ferromagnesian

    a very close technical term, especially for minerals rich in iron and magnesium; it sounds more specialized than 'mafic'

  • basaltic

    often used for material like basalt, so it is narrower than the broader group described by 'mafic'

反義詞
  • felsic

    the technical opposite for lighter, silica-rich rock, magma, or minerals

文法句型

mafic + rock / lava / minerals

be mafic

describe [sample] as mafic

用法筆記

Mostly used in geology before nouns such as rock, lava, magma, and minerals. It often appears when geologists contrast a darker, magnesium- and iron-rich sample with felsic material.

常見錯誤

❌The stone is mafic because it looks dark.
✅Geologists call the stone mafic because it is rich in magnesium and iron.
💡The word is about composition, not dark color by itself.
❌This mafic broke easily.
✅This mafic rock broke easily.
💡'mafic' is an adjective, so it usually needs a noun such as 'rock' or 'lava'.