Anorthosite and Amphibolite

Anorthosite

Amphibolite

Amphibolite and Anorthosite

Definition

Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase

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

History

Discoverer

Unknown

Alexandre Brongniart

Etymology

From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1

From Amphibole + -ite

Class

Igneous Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Foliated, Glassy

Banded, Foliated, Massive

Color

Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White

Black, Brown, Green, Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Foliated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration

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

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate

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

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Curling

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite

Hornblendite

Features

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

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

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

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.

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.

Composition

Mineral Content

Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene

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

Compound Content

Ca, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO, Sulfur Trioxide

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5-6

6-7

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Medium to Coarse Grained

Fracture

Irregular

Irregular to Conchoidal

Streak

White

White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Pearly to Subvitreous

Vitreous to Dull

Cleavage

Irregular

Toughness

Not Available

2.3

Specific Gravity

2.62-2.82

2.5

Transparency

Translucent

Opaque

Density

2.7-4 g/cm³

2.85-3.07 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.84 kJ/Kg K

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

Russia, Turkey

Africa

Not Yet Found

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

Europe

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

Germany, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Poland

Others

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

South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Anorthosite and Amphibolite Properties

Know all about Anorthosite and Amphibolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Anorthosite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Amphibolite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Anorthosite is Foliated, Glassy whereas that of Amphibolite is Banded, Foliated, Massive. Anorthosite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and Amphibolite appears Foliated. The luster of Anorthosite is pearly to subvitreous while that of Amphibolite is vitreous to dull. Anorthosite and Amphibolite are available in black, bluish - grey, brown, green, grey, light greenish grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Anorthosite are creating artwork, curling and that of Amphibolite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork.