Amphibolite and Adakite

Amphibolite

Adakite

Definition

Amphibolite can be defined as a granular metamorphic rock which mainly consist of hornblende and plagioclase

Adakite is an intermediate to felsic volcanic rock that has geochemical characteristics of magma which is said to be formed by partial melting of altered basalt that is subducted below volcanic arcs

History

Origin

Unknown

Adak, Aleutian Islands

Discoverer

Alexandre Brongniart

Defant and Drummond

Etymology

From Amphibole + -ite

From Adak, Aleutian Islands

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Volcanic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Banded, Foliated, Massive

Porphyritic

Color

Black, Brown, Green, Grey

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Foliated

Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Office Buildings

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Roadstone

As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Commemorative Tablets, Pottery, Used in aquariums

Types

Hornblendite

Not Available

Features

Clasts are smooth to touch, Matrix variable, Surfaces are often shiny

Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Host rock for Diamond, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Amphibolite is a coarse-grained metamorphic rock which forms by metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks like basalt and gabbro or from the metamorphism of clay-rich sedimentary rocks like marl or graywacke.

Adakite rocks are formed when the hydrous fluids are released from minerals that break down in metamorphosed basalt, and rise into the mantle they initiate partial melting.

Composition

Mineral Content

Amphibole, Andalusite, Biotite, Calcite, Epidote, Garnet, Hornblade, Kyanite, Magnetite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Staurolite, Wollastonite

Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Aluminium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

3-4

Grain Size

Medium to Coarse Grained

Fine to Medium Grained

Fracture

Irregular to Conchoidal

Conchoidal

Streak

White to Grey

Bluish Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Vitreous to Dull

Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous

Cleavage

Irregular

Not Available

Toughness

2.3

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.5

Not Available

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.85-3.07 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Russia, Turkey

India, Russia

Africa

Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

Ethiopia, Somalia, South Africa

Europe

Germany, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Poland

Iceland

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

South Australia, Western Australia

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Amphibolite and Adakite Properties

Know all about Amphibolite and Adakite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Amphibolite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Adakite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Amphibolite is Banded, Foliated, Massive whereas that of Adakite is Porphyritic. Amphibolite appears Foliated and Adakite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Amphibolite is vitreous to dull while that of Adakite is grainy, pearly and vitreous. Amphibolite is available in black, brown, green, grey colors whereas Adakite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. The commercial uses of Amphibolite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Adakite are commemorative tablets, pottery, used in aquariums.