Amphibolite and Gneiss

Amphibolite

Gneiss

Definition

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

Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks

History

Discoverer

Alexandre Brongniart

Unknown

Etymology

From Amphibole + -ite

From the Middle High German verb gneist (to spark; so called because the rock glitters)

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Banded, Foliated, Massive

Banded, Foliated, Platy

Color

Black, Brown, Green, Grey

Black, Brown, Pink, Red, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Foliated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

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

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

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

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Cemetery Markers, Jewelry, Tombstones, Used in aquariums

Types

Hornblendite

Augen Gneiss, Henderson Gneiss, Lewisian Gneiss, Archean and Proterozoic Gneiss.

Features

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

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Konark Sun Temple in India, Washington Monument, US

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet 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.

Gneiss is a high grade metamorphic rock i.e. it has been subjected to higher temperatures and pressures than schist. It is formed by the metamorphosis of Gneiss forms from volcanic rock, shale or granitie.

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica, Zircon

Compound Content

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

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Impact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

Grain Size

Medium to Coarse Grained

Fracture

Irregular to Conchoidal

Irregular

Streak

White to Grey

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Very Less Porous

Luster

Vitreous to Dull

Dull

Compressive Strength

Not Available

125.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Irregular

Poor

Toughness

2.3

1.2

Specific Gravity

2.5

2.5-2.7

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.85-3.07 g/cm³

2.6-2.9 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Russia, Turkey

China, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia

Africa

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

Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo

Europe

Germany, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Poland

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA

South America

Brazil

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

South Australia, Western Australia

New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Amphibolite and Gneiss Properties

Know all about Amphibolite and Gneiss properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Amphibolite and Gneiss belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Amphibolite is Banded, Foliated, Massive whereas that of Gneiss is Banded, Foliated, Platy. Amphibolite appears Foliated and Gneiss appears Foliated. The luster of Amphibolite is vitreous to dull while that of Gneiss is dull. Amphibolite is available in black, brown, green, grey colors whereas Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Amphibolite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Gneiss are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used in aquariums.