Diorite () is an
intrusive igneous rock composed principally of the
silicate minerals plagioclase feldspar (typically
andesine),
biotite,
hornblende, and/or
pyroxene. The
chemical composition of diorite is
intermediate, between that of
mafic gabbro and
felsic granite. Diorite is usually grey to dark-grey in colour, but it can also be black or bluish-grey, and frequently has a greenish cast. It is distinguished from
gabbro on the basis of the composition of the plagioclase species; the plagioclase in diorite is richer in
sodium and poorer in
calcium. Diorite may contain small amounts of
quartz,
microcline, and
olivine.
Zircon,
apatite,
titanite,
magnetite,
ilmenite, and
sulfides occur as accessory minerals. Minor amounts of
muscovite may also be present. Varieties deficient in hornblende and other dark minerals are called
leucodiorite. When
olivine and more
iron-rich
augite are present, the rock grades into
ferrodiorite, which is transitional to gabbro. The presence of significant quartz makes the rock type
quartz-diorite (>5% quartz) or
tonalite (>20% quartz), and if
orthoclase (
potassium feldspar) is present at greater than 10 percent, the rock type grades into
monzodiorite or
granodiorite. A dioritic rock containing
feldspathoid mineral/s and no quartz is termed
foid-bearing diorite or
foid diorite according to content.