basanitic

Basanitic is a term used in petrology to describe a type of volcanic rock. It is an extrusive igneous rock, meaning it forms from the rapid cooling of lava on the Earth's surface. Basanitic rocks are characterized by their fine-grained texture and their specific mineralogical composition. They are considered a variety of basalt, but with a higher proportion of feldspathoid minerals, such as nepheline or leucite, and a lower proportion of silica. This difference in silica content is what distinguishes basanitic from more common basalt.

The mineralogy of basanitic typically includes plagioclase feldspar, olivine, and pyroxene, along with the characteristic feldspathoids. The presence of feldspathoids indicates that the magma from which the rock formed was undersaturated in silica. Basanitic rocks are commonly found in oceanic islands, continental rifts, and alkaline provinces. They are often associated with volcanic activity that is not related to typical mid-ocean ridge spreading centers or subduction zones, but rather with mantle plumes or hot spots. The color of basanitic can vary, but it is often dark grey to black, similar to basalt, due to the abundance of mafic minerals.