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Boninite and Nephelinite


Nephelinite and Boninite


Definition

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   
Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene (variety augite).   

History
  
  

Origin
Japan   
Brazil   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From its occurrence in the Izu-Bonin arc south of Japan   
from French néphéline, from Greek nephelē   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Plutonic   

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

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic   
Aphanitic   

Color
Bluish - Grey, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey   
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Dull and Soft   
Skeletal   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Kitchens   
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   

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

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, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

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)   
Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Peralkaline Nephelinite   

Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, High Mg content, Is one of the oldest rock   
Host Rock for Lead   

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   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Boninite is a type of Igneous rock which is formed through the cooling and solidification of lava or existing rocks.   
Nephelinite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite   
Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase   

Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide   
Ca, CaO, Carbon, Cl, MgO   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

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

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
7   
6.5   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Uneven   
Flat   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Vitreous   
Vitreous to Metallic   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
35.00 N/mm2   
29

Cleavage
Not Available   
Imperfect   

Toughness
1.1   
2.7   

Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8   
2.4-2.9   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
Not Available   
2.5-3 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available   
0.88 kJ/Kg K   
13

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Not Available   
Japan   

Africa
South Africa   
Rwanda, Tanzania   

Europe
England, Finland, United Kingdom   
Not Yet Found   

Others
Antarctica, Greenland   
Hawaii Islands   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Colombia, Uruguay   
Colombia   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia   
Not Yet Found   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Boninite and Nephelinite Properties

Know all about Boninite and Nephelinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Boninite and Nephelinite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Boninite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Nephelinite is Aphanitic. Boninite appears Dull and Soft and Nephelinite appears Skeletal. The luster of Boninite is vitreous while that of Nephelinite is vitreous to metallic. Boninite is available in bluish - grey, brown, colourless, green, grey colors whereas Nephelinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Boninite and Nephelinite are an oil and gas reservoir, cemetery markers, creating artwork, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo).

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