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Basanite  and Porphyry


Porphyry 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   
Porphyry is a reddish-brown to purple igneous rock containing large phenocrysts of various minerals embedded in a fine-grained matrix   

History
  
  

Origin
Unknown   
Egypt   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Latin basanites + -ite   
From Old French porfire, from Italian porfiro and in some cases directly from Latin porphyrites   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Plutonic   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic   
Porphyritic   

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White   
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Red, Rust, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
No   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Appearance
Glassy or Pearly   
Dull   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes   
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Whetstones   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points   
Construction Aggregate   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments   
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   

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   

Types

Types
Nepheline-Basanite, Analcite-Basanite and Leucite-Basanite   
Rhomb Porphyry   

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, Surfaces are often shiny   

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   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Basanite is a fine-grained, hard rock that forms when bits of lava shoot out of volcanoes.   
Porphyry is formed in two stages: the magma cools slowly deep within the crust or the magma is cools rapidly as it erupts from a volcano, creating small grains that are usually invisible to naked eye.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Augite, Feldspar, Ilmenite, Olivine, Plagioclase   
Biotite, Chert, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Quartz, Silica   

Compound Content
Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

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

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Not Registered   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
7   
6-7   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal   
Irregular   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Waxy and Dull   
Dull   

Cleavage
Non-Existent   
Imperfect   

Toughness
1.5   
1.7   

Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8   
2.5-4   

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque   
Translucent to Opaque   

Density
2.7 g/cm3   
2.5-2.52 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, Impact Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Not Yet Found   
China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam   

Africa
Uganda   
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa   

Europe
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain   
Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland   

Others
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge   
Greenland   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, Cuba, Jamaica, USA   

South America
Bolivia, Brazil   
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Basanite  and Porphyry Properties

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

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