Why will an iron-rich olivine have a higher density than a magnesium-rich olivine?
A)More magnesium is needed to equal the same atomic charge as iron.
B)Iron-rich olivine has smaller crystals, so more of them will fit into the same area.
C)Magnesium-rich olivine has more silicon, which is less dense.
D)Iron has a greater atomic mass than magnesium and therefore is heavier.

Question

Quizplus · Accepted Answer

Iron has a greater atomic mass than magnesium, meaning that each atom of iron weighs more than each atom of magnesium. Therefore, a mineral with a higher abundance of iron will have a higher density than a mineral with a higher abundance of magnesium.

Why Will an Iron-Rich Olivine Have a Higher Density Than