Anorthosite and Syenite

Anorthosite

Syenite

Definition

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

Syenite is a coarse-grained igneous rock which is composed mainly of alkali feldspar and various ferromagnesian minerals

History

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1

From French syénite, from Latin Syenites (lapis ) (stone) of Syene

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Foliated, Glassy

Earthy

Color

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

Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Banded and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration

Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Curling

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite

Shonkinite

Features

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable

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

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

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.

Syenites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.

Composition

Mineral Content

Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene

Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

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

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5-6

5.5-6

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Irregular

Not Available

Streak

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Pearly to Subvitreous

Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength

Not Available

150.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Irregular

Perfect

Toughness

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.62-2.82

2.6-2.7

Transparency

Translucent

Opaque

Density

2.7-4 g/cm³

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.84 kJ/Kg K

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

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

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

Not Yet Found

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

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

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada

USA

South America

Bolivia, Colombia

Brazil, Chile

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Anorthosite and Syenite Properties

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