Ultramafic (also referred to as
ultrabasic rocks, although the terms are not wholly equivalent) are
igneous and
meta-igneous rocks with a very low
silica content (less than 45%), generally >18%
MgO, high
FeO, low
potassium, and are composed of usually greater than 90%
mafic minerals (dark colored, high
magnesium and
iron content). The
Earth's mantle is composed of ultramafic rocks. Ultrabasic is a more inclusive term that includes igneous rocks with low silica content that may not be extremely enriched in Fe and Mg, such as
carbonatites and
ultrapotassic igneous rocks.