Completely crystallized; large crystals, easily visible with the naked eye; dark in color. Rocks containing olivine, pyroxene, and plagioclase generally weather faster. Weathering of gabbro releases nutrient elements, such as calcium and potassium, which produce initially alkaline soils.

Does gabbro erode easily?

Both gabbro and basalt erode very easily. Coarse-grained rocks, in general, erode easily. The large grain size means it is relatively easy to dislodge individual grains out of the rock.

Which of the following minerals will weather the fastest?

Mafic silicates like olivine and pyroxene tend to weather much faster than felsic minerals like quartz and feldspar. Different minerals show different degrees of solubility in water in that some minerals dissolve much more readily than others.