MORB (Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt)

Mid-Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB) is a type of volcanic rock that forms at divergent tectonic plate boundaries beneath the ocean. When oceanic plates pull apart, magma from the Earth's mantle rises to fill the gap, cooling quickly to create new ocean crust. MORB is characterized by its fine-grained texture and specific mineral composition, reflecting its rapid cooling. It is predominant along mid-ocean ridges, the world's longest mountain ranges submerged beneath the seas. Studying MORB helps geologists understand Earth's mantle processes, oceanic crust formation, and the geology of the ocean floors.