Gabbroischen

Gabbroischen is a term used in mineralogy and petrology to describe a rock or mineral with characteristics that resemble gabbro. Gabbro is a coarse-grained, mafic intrusive igneous rock composed primarily of plagioclase feldspar and pyroxene. Rocks or minerals referred to as gabbroischen typically share some of these essential mineralogical or textural features, such as a dark color due to the presence of ferromagnesian minerals, or a phaneritic (coarse-grained) texture. However, the term gabbroischen is not a formal classification and is often used informally to denote something that is gabbro-like but may not perfectly fit the strict definition of gabbro, perhaps due to variations in mineral proportions or the presence of other minor constituents.

The term might be applied to rocks that are similar in composition to gabbro but have formed under slightly different conditions, leading to textural or mineralogical nuances. For example, a rock with a high proportion of olivine alongside plagioclase and pyroxene, which is close to gabbro but technically a troctolite or olivine gabbro, might be informally described as gabbroischen. Similarly, a granular, dark-colored rock with interlocking crystals that visually resembles gabbro but whose precise mineralogical makeup is not fully determined or slightly deviates from the standard gabbro composition could also be termed gabbroischen. The usage is generally descriptive, highlighting the visual or compositional resemblance to true gabbro rather than indicating a distinct geological entity.