Blue Granite and Rapakivi Granite

Blue Granite

Definition

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

Rapakivi Granite is a hornblende-biotite Granite containing large rounded crystals of orthoclase which are mantled with oligoclase

History

Origin

Unknown

Finland, Europe

Discoverer

Unknown

Jakob Sederholm

Etymology

From the color of rock, Blue

From Finnish Rapakivi which stands for crumbly rock

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Plutonic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Phaneritic

Granular, Phaneritic

Color

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Shiny

Veined or Pebbled

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings, Paving Stone, Resorts

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Not Yet Used

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

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones

Types

Not Available

Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite and Hybrid Granite

Features

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

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

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.

Granite is an igneous rock which is very hard, crystalline and is visibly homogeneous in texture and forms by melting of continental rocks

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Not Available

Streak

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Dull to Grainy with Sporadic parts Pearly and Vitreous

Compressive Strength

175.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.8-3

2.6-2.7

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.9-2.91 g/cm³

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.79 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

Not Yet Found

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Venezuela

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada, USA

South America

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

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

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

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Blue Granite and Rapakivi Granite Properties

Know all about Blue Granite and Rapakivi Granite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Blue Granite and Rapakivi Granite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Blue Granite is Phaneritic whereas that of Rapakivi Granite is Granular, Phaneritic. Blue Granite appears Shiny and Rapakivi Granite appears Veined or Pebbled. The luster of Blue Granite is subvitreous to dull while that of Rapakivi Granite is dull to grainy with sporadic parts pearly and vitreous. Blue Granite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white colors whereas Rapakivi Granite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Blue Granite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork, curling and that of Rapakivi Granite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork, curling, laboratory bench tops, tombstones.