Definition
Basanite is a black basaltic rock which mainly contains plagioclase, augite, olivine and nepheline and is formerly used as a touchstone
  
Harzburgite is a plutonic rock of the peridotite group consisting largely of orthopyroxene and olivine
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
Germany
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Latin basanites + -ite
  
From the name of a town in Harzburg, Germany
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Plutonic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
  
Phaneritic
  
Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
  
Dark Greenish - Grey
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Glassy or Pearly
  
Rough and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Whetstones
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points
  
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
As a touchstone, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Manufacture of tools, Metallurgical Flux, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms
  
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Source of Chromite, Platinum, Nickel and Garnet, Source of Diamonds
  
Types
Nepheline-Basanite, Analcite-Basanite and Leucite-Basanite
  
Not Available
  
Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Used as a touchstone
  
Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Basanite is a fine-grained, hard rock that forms when bits of lava shoot out of volcanoes.
  
Harzburgite 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
Augite, Feldspar, Ilmenite, Olivine, Plagioclase
  
Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Compound Content
Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Ca, Fe, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium, Titanium Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Impact Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
7
  
5.5-6
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
  
Irregular
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Waxy and Dull
  
Shiny
  
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Imperfect
  
Toughness
1.5
  
2.1
  
Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8
  
3-3.01
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
2.7 g/cm3
  
3.1-3.4 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.74 kJ/Kg K
  
19
1.25 kJ/Kg K
  
6
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Not Yet Found
  
Japan, Oman
  
Africa
Uganda
  
South Africa
  
Europe
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain
  
France, Germany, Italy, Venezuela
  
Others
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
  
Hawaii Islands, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Bolivia, Brazil
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Not Yet Found
  
Basanite vs Harzburgite 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. Basanite vs Harzburgite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Basanite and Properties of Harzburgite. Learn more about Basanite vs Harzburgite in the next section. The interior uses of Basanite include Decorative aggregates and Homes whereas the interior uses of Harzburgite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Basanite and Harzburgite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Basanite in construction industry include Arrowheads, Construction aggregate, Cutting tool, Spear points and that of Harzburgite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones.
More about Basanite and Harzburgite
Here you can know more about Basanite and Harzburgite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Basanite and Harzburgite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Basanite includes Augite, Feldspar, Ilmenite, Olivine, Plagioclase and mineral content of Harzburgite includes Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Basanite vs Harzburgite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Basanite is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors whereas, Harzburgite is available in dark greenish - grey colors. Appearance of Basanite is Glassy or Pearly and that of Harzburgite is Rough and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Basanite vs Harzburgite. The hardness of Basanite is 7 and that of Harzburgite is 5.5-6. The types of Basanite are Nepheline-Basanite, Analcite-Basanite and Leucite-Basanite whereas types of Harzburgite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Basanite and Harzburgite is white. The specific heat capacity of Basanite is 0.74 kJ/Kg K and that of Harzburgite is 1.25 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Basanite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Harzburgite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.