Blue Granite and Gneiss

Blue Granite

Gneiss

Definition

Blue Granite is an igneous rock and a variety of Larvikite, notable for the presence of thumbnail-sized blue crystals of feldspar

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

Etymology

From the color of rock, Blue

From the Middle High German verb gneist (to spark; so called because the rock glitters)

Class

Igneous Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Phaneritic

Banded, Foliated, Platy

Color

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Black, Brown, Pink, Red, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Shiny

Foliated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

As Dimension Stone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling

Cemetery Markers, Jewelry, Tombstones, Used in aquariums

Types

Not Available

Augen Gneiss, Henderson Gneiss, Lewisian Gneiss, Archean and Proterozoic Gneiss.

Features

Available in lots of colors, Is one of the oldest rock

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Konark Sun Temple in India, Washington Monument, US

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Blue Granite is an igneous rock which is a variety of Larvikite and is known mainly for the presence of thumbnail-sized crystals of feldspar.

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

Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon

Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica, Zircon

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, MnO, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism

Impact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Medium to Coarse Grained

Fracture

Not Available

Irregular

Streak

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Very Less Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Dull

Compressive Strength

175.00 N/mm²

125.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Not Available

Poor

Toughness

Not Available

1.2

Specific Gravity

2.8-3

2.5-2.7

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.9-2.91 g/cm³

2.6-2.9 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.79 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure 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

Not Yet Found

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

Europe

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

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

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

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

South America

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

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 >>

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All about Blue Granite and Gneiss Properties

Know all about Blue Granite and Gneiss properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Blue Granite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Gneiss belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Blue Granite is Phaneritic whereas that of Gneiss is Banded, Foliated, Platy. Blue Granite appears Shiny and Gneiss appears Foliated. The luster of Blue Granite is subvitreous to dull while that of Gneiss is dull. Blue Granite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white colors whereas Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Blue Granite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork, curling and that of Gneiss are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used in aquariums.