Home
Compare Rocks


Anorthosite and Adakite


Adakite and Anorthosite


Definition

Definition
Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or 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
Unknown   
Defant and Drummond   

Etymology
From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1   
From Adak, Aleutian Islands   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Volcanic   

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Foliated, Glassy   
Porphyritic   

Color
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White   
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
No   
No   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny   
Dull and Soft   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration   
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings   

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Whetstones   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate   
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines   
Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Curling   
Commemorative Tablets, Pottery, Used in aquariums   

Types

Types
Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite   
Not Available   

Features
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock   
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Host rock for Diamond, Very fine grained rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

Sculpture
Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Not Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Anorthosite is a phaneritic, intrusive igneous rock which is characterized by a predominance of plagioclase feldspar which is almost 90–100%, and a minimal mafic component.   
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, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene   
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   

Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO, Sulfur Trioxide   
Aluminium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism   
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering   
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion   
Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5-6   
3-4   

Grain Size
Coarse Grained   
Fine to Medium Grained   

Fracture
Irregular   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
Bluish Black   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Pearly to Subvitreous   
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous   

Cleavage
Irregular   
Not Available   

Toughness
Not Available   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
2.62-2.82   
Not Available   

Transparency
Translucent   
Opaque   

Density
2.7-4 g/cm3   
Not Available   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K   
15
Not Available   

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Not Yet Found   
India, Russia   

Africa
Not Yet Found   
Ethiopia, Somalia, South Africa   

Europe
Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Czech Republic   
Iceland   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada   
Canada, USA   

South America
Bolivia, Colombia   
Brazil   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia   
Not Yet Found   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Anorthosite and Adakite Properties

Know all about Anorthosite and Adakite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Anorthosite and Adakite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Anorthosite is Foliated, Glassy whereas that of Adakite is Porphyritic. Anorthosite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and Adakite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Anorthosite is pearly to subvitreous while that of Adakite is grainy, pearly and vitreous. Anorthosite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, green, grey, light greenish grey, pink, white colors whereas Adakite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. The commercial uses of Anorthosite are creating artwork, curling and that of Adakite are commemorative tablets, pottery, used in aquariums.

Compare Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

» More Igneous Rocks

Compare Igneous Rocks

» More Compare Igneous Rocks