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Anorthosite vs Pegmatite


Pegmatite vs Anorthosite


Definition

Definition
Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase  
Pegmatite rock is a holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is composed of interlocking phaneritic crystals  

History
  
  

Origin
-  
-  

Discoverer
Unknown  
R. J. Hauy  

Etymology
From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1  
From Greek pegma, pegmat which means- thing joined together + -ite  

Class
Igneous Rocks  
Igneous Rocks  

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

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic  
Plutonic  

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  

Texture

Texture
Foliated, Glassy  
Pegmatitic  

Color
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White  
Black, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Rust, Silver, White, Yellow  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
No  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
No  
Yes  

Wind Resistant
Yes  
No  

Acid Resistant
No  
No  

Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny  
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration  
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration  

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing  
Curbing  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate  
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

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

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Curling  
Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz  

Types

Types
Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite  
Granite Pegmatite, Gabbro Pegmatite and Diorite Pegmatite  

Features
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock  
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz  

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
-  

Sculpture
-  
-  

Famous Sculptures
-  
-  

Pictographs
-  
-  

Petroglyphs
-  
-  

Figurines
-  
-  

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.   
Pegmatite rock is holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is formed by partial melting and dewatering during the process of metamorphism.  

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene  
Apatite, Beryl, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Lepidolite, Quartz, Silica, Spodumene, Topaz  

Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO, Sulfur Trioxide  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Phosphorus Pentoxide  

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes  
Yes  

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

Weathering
Yes  
Yes  

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering  

Erosion
Yes  
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  
7  

Grain Size
Coarse Grained  
Medium to Coarse Grained  

Fracture
Irregular  
Conchoidal  

Streak
White  
White  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Pearly to Subvitreous  
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous  

Compressive Strength
180.00 N/mm2  
18
178.54 N/mm2  
19

Cleavage
-  
Perfect  

Toughness
-  
2.1  

Specific Gravity
2.62-2.82  
2.6-2.63  

Transparency
Translucent  
Translucent to Opaque  

Density
2.7-4 g/cm3  
2.6-2.65 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K  
15
0.79 kJ/Kg K  
17

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
-  
China, India, Iran, Japan, Nepal, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea  

Africa
-  
South Africa  

Europe
Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Czech Republic  
Austria, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine  

Others
-  
-  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada  
Canada  

South America
Bolivia, Colombia  
Brazil  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia  
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia  

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Anorthosite vs Pegmatite Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Anorthosite and Pegmatite Reserves. Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase. Pegmatite rock is a holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is composed of interlocking phaneritic crystals. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Anorthosite vs Pegmatite information and Anorthosite vs Pegmatite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Anorthosite vs Pegmatite Characteristics

Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Anorthosite vs Pegmatite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Anorthosite and Properties of Pegmatite. Learn more about Anorthosite vs Pegmatite in the next section. The interior uses of Anorthosite include Decorative aggregates, Floor tiles, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Pegmatite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Anorthosite and Pegmatite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Anorthosite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate and that of Pegmatite include As dimension stone, Building houses or walls, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping.

More about Anorthosite and Pegmatite

Here you can know more about Anorthosite and Pegmatite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Anorthosite and Pegmatite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Anorthosite includes Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene and mineral content of Pegmatite includes Apatite, Beryl, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Lepidolite, Quartz, Silica, Spodumene, Topaz. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Anorthosite vs Pegmatite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Anorthosite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, green, grey, light greenish grey, pink, white colors whereas, Pegmatite is available in black, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, rust, silver, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Anorthosite is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and that of Pegmatite is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Anorthosite vs Pegmatite. The hardness of Anorthosite is 5-6 and that of Pegmatite is 7. The types of Anorthosite are Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite whereas types of Pegmatite are Granite Pegmatite, Gabbro Pegmatite and Diorite Pegmatite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Anorthosite and Pegmatite is white. The specific heat capacity of Anorthosite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Pegmatite is 0.79 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Anorthosite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, scratch resistant, wear resistant whereas Pegmatite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.

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