Basaltiske

Basaltiske is the Danish and Norwegian adjective meaning basaltic. In geology, it is used to describe igneous rocks that have a basaltic composition, characterized by relatively low silica content and a high content of magnesium and iron (mafic). The term is often employed to distinguish rocks in the basalt family from felsic and intermediate rocks.

Most basaltiske rocks are dominated by plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene, with olivine present in ultramafic varieties. Accessory minerals can include magnetite, amphibole, and minor glass. The typical texture is aphanitic (fine-grained) due to rapid cooling of lava at the surface, though some samples are porphyritic, containing larger phenocrysts set in a finer groundmass. Color is generally dark, giving basaltic rocks their characteristic appearance.

Basaltiske rocks form from low-viscosity basaltic magma. They are common at mid-ocean ridges and volcanic hotspots and also occur in continental rift zones and flood basalt provinces. Subaerial basalt lava typically flows over large distances, creating lava plateaus, lava flows, and volcanic cones. In crustal settings, basaltic magmas can evolve through differentiation or mixing, producing a range of related rock types, although basaltici remains a useful umbrella term for rocks with basaltic chemistry.

In summary, basaltiske describes rocks with basaltic (mafic, low-silica) composition, primarily composed of plagioclase and pyroxene, with textures ranging from fine-grained to porphyritic, and formed from relatively low-viscosity magmas at various tectonic settings. It is the linguistic counterpart to the English term basaltic.