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The concentric, round, inclusive bodies—called orbicules—form in cooling magma chambers. A phenomenon called rhythmic crystallization, in which different minerals crystallize in concentric layers, produces this distinctive structure.
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Details
- Title: Orbicular Diorite
- Location: Corsica, France, Europe
- Type: MIneral
- Rights: This image was obtained from the Smithsonian Institution. The image or its contents may be protected by international copyright laws. http://www.si.edu/termsofuse
- External Link: View this object record in the Smithsonian Institution Collections Search Center
- USNM Catalog Number(s): 53072
- Scientific Name: Diorite
- Photo Credit: Chip Clark, Smithsonian Institution National Museum of Natural History
- Field: Mineral Sciences
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