Definition
Appinite is an igneous rock in which the crystals are so fine grained that individual minerals cannot be easily distinguished
  
Picrite is a variety of high-magnesium olivine basalt that is very rich in the mineral olivine
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
Hawaii Islands
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From the variety of Lamprophyre Greek lampros bright and shining + porphureos purple
  
From Greek pikros bitter + -ite, 19th century
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Plutonic
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Porphyritic
  
Earthy, Rough
  
Color
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Grey
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated
  
Rough and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Whetstones
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Roadstone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
  
Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner
  
As a Feed Additive for Livestock, As armour rock for sea walls, Metallurgical Flux, Pottery, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Types
Not Available
  
Oceanite
  
Features
Always found as volcanic pipes over deep continental crust, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock, Surfaces are often shiny
  
Host Rock for Lead
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
The formation of Appinite takes place deep beneath the Earth’s surface at around 150 to 450 kms, and are erupted rapidly and violently.
  
Picrite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Amphibole, Carbonate, Garnet, Micas, Olivine, Phlogopite, Pyroxene
  
Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyrrhotite
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Al, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Mg, MgO
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5-6
  
6.8
  
Grain Size
Fine to Coarse Grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Uneven
  
Streak
White
  
White, Greenish White or Grey
  
Porosity
Very Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Compressive Strength
Not Available
  
189.00 N/mm
2
  
11
Cleavage
Conchoidal
  
Imperfect
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
2.1
  
Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87
  
2.75-2.92
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.95-2.96 g/cm3
  
1.5-2.5 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available
  
0.88 kJ/Kg K
  
13
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Heat Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Russia
  
India, Russia
  
Africa
Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa
  
South Africa
  
Europe
England, Hungary, Iceland, United Kingdom
  
Iceland
  
Others
Antarctica, Greenland
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador
  
Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Not Yet Found
  
All about Appinite and Picrite Properties
Know all about Appinite and Picrite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Appinite and Picrite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Appinite is Porphyritic whereas that of Picrite is Earthy, Rough. Appinite appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Picrite appears Rough and Shiny. The luster of Appinite and Picrite is subvitreous to dull. Appinite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, dark greenish - grey, green, grey colors whereas Picrite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Appinite are an oil and gas reservoir, as a feed additive for livestock, gemstone, metallurgical flux, production of lime, soil conditioner and that of Picrite are as a feed additive for livestock, as armour rock for sea walls, metallurgical flux, pottery, source of magnesia (mgo).