Definition
Boninite is a mafic extrusive rock which is high in magnesium and silica content, formed in fore-arc environments, typically during the early stages of subduction
  
Minette is a variety of Lamprophyre and is porphyritic alkaline igneous rock which is mainly dominated by biotite and potassic feldspar
  
History
  
  
Origin
Japan
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From its occurrence in the Izu-Bonin arc south of Japan
  
From French mine ore, mine + ette
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Volcanic
  
Plutonic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
  
Porphyritic
  
Color
Bluish - Grey, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey
  
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Grey
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Dull and Soft
  
Dull, Banded and Foilated
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Kitchens
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Types
Not Available
  
Minette, Alnoite, Camptonite, Monchiquite, Fourchite, Vogesite, Appinite and Spessartite
  
Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, High Mg content, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Always found as volcanic pipes over deep continental crust, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock, Surfaces are often shiny
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
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
Boninite is a type of Igneous rock which is formed through the cooling and solidification of lava or existing rocks.
  
Minette formation takes place deep beneath the Earth’s surface at around 150 to 450 kms, and are erupted rapidly and violently.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite
  
Amphibole, Carbonate, Garnet, Micas, Olivine, Phlogopite, Pyroxene
  
Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, 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
Biological Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
7
  
5-6
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Fine to Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Very Less Porous
  
Luster
Vitreous
  
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Cleavage
Not Available
  
Conchoidal
  
Toughness
1.1
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8
  
2.86-2.87
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
Not Available
  
2.95-2.96 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Not Available
  
Russia
  
Africa
South Africa
  
Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa
  
Europe
England, Finland, United Kingdom
  
England, Hungary, Iceland, United Kingdom
  
Others
Antarctica, Greenland
  
Antarctica, Greenland
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
South America
Colombia, Uruguay
  
Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia