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Basanite  and Gneiss


Gneiss and Basanite 


Definition

Definition
Basanite is a black basaltic rock which mainly contains plagioclase, augite, olivine and nepheline and is formerly used as a touchstone   
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks   

History
  
  

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Latin basanites + -ite   
From the Middle High German verb gneist (to spark; so called because the rock glitters)   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic   
Banded, Foliated, Platy   

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White   
Black, Brown, Pink, Red, White   

Maintenance
Less   
More   

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   
Foliated   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes   
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Whetstones   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points   
As Dimension Stone   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments   
Artifacts   

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   
Cemetery Markers, Jewelry, Tombstones, Used in aquariums   

Types

Types
Nepheline-Basanite, Analcite-Basanite and Leucite-Basanite   
Augen Gneiss, Henderson Gneiss, Lewisian Gneiss, Archean and Proterozoic Gneiss.   

Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Used as a touchstone   
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Konark Sun Temple in India, Washington Monument, US   

Sculpture
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Pictographs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Basanite is a fine-grained, hard rock that forms when bits of lava shoot out of volcanoes.   
Gneiss is a high grade metamorphic rock i.e. it has been subjected to higher temperatures and pressures than schist. It is formed by the metamorphosis of Gneiss forms from volcanic rock, shale or granitie.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Augite, Feldspar, Ilmenite, Olivine, Plagioclase   
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica, Zircon   

Compound Content
Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide   
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, MnO, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, 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   
Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
7   
7   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Medium to Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal   
Irregular   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Very Less Porous   

Luster
Waxy and Dull   
Dull   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
125.00 N/mm2   
17

Cleavage
Non-Existent   
Poor   

Toughness
1.5   
1.2   

Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8   
2.5-2.7   

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque   
Translucent to Opaque   

Density
2.7 g/cm3   
2.6-2.9 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.74 kJ/Kg K   
19
Not Available   

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Not Yet Found   
China, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia   

Africa
Uganda   
Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo   

Europe
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain   
Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom   

Others
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA   

South America
Bolivia, Brazil   
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia   
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Basanite  and Gneiss Properties

Know all about Basanite  and Gneiss properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Basanite  belongs to Igneous Rocks while Gneiss belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Basanite  is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Gneiss is Banded, Foliated, Platy. Basanite  appears Glassy or Pearly and Gneiss appears Foliated. The luster of Basanite  is waxy and dull while that of Gneiss is dull. Basanite  is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors whereas Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Basanite  are as a touchstone, creating artwork, gemstone, in fire-starting tools, manufacture of tools, metallurgical flux, jewelry, to ignite fire, used in flintlock firearms and that of Gneiss are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used in aquariums.

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