Mugearite () is a type of oligoclase-bearing basalt, comprising olivine, apatite, and opaque oxides. The main feldspar in mugearite is oligoclase.
Mugearite is a sodium-rich member of the alkaline magma series. In the TAS classification of volcanic rock, mugearite is classified as sodium-rich basaltic trachyandesite.
Examples
Western Scotland
Mugearite was first identified at
Mugeary on the island of
Skye, Scotland by
Alfred Harker in 1904.
of mugearite also occur on the island of Mull. These examples of mugearite were formed during a period of continental
flood basalt volcanic activity that happened in western Scotland during the
Paleogene period of the Earth's geological history, when the North Atlantic Ocean opened between Europe and North America.
Oceanic islands
Mugearite has been erupted by the volcanoes of some
Volcanic island at hotspots. Examples are Hawaii,
Ascension Island,
Saint Helena, Réunion,
Mauritius and
Tahiti.
Mars
Analysis of a Martian rock found by the
Curiosity rover and named "Jake Matijevic" (or "Jake M"), after a
NASA engineer, determined that this Martian rock is very similar to mugearite erupted on Earth.
