Borolanite and Gabbro

Borolanite

Gabbro

Definition

Borolanite is a variety of Nepheline Syenite and belongs to igneous rocks and contains nepheline-alkali feldspar pseudomorphs which occur as conspicuous white spots in the dark rock matrix

Gabbro is an intrusive igneous rock which is chemically equivalent to plutonic Basalt

History

Origin

Scotland

Germany

Discoverer

Unknown

Christian Leopold von Buch

Etymology

From Alkalic Igneous complex near Loch Borralan in northwest Scotland

From Latin glaber bare, smooth, bald

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Granular

Phaneritic

Color

Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White

Dark Grey to Black

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Production of Glass and Ceramics

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones

Types

Not Available

Features

Application of acids on the surface causes cloudy frosting, Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Dissolves in hydrochloric acid, Is one of the oldest rock

Smooth to touch

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Borolanites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.

Gabbro, a mafic rock, forms due to cooling and crystallization of magma underneath Earth's surface.

Composition

Mineral Content

Albite, Amphibole, Biotite, Cancrinite, Feldspar, Hornblende, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Sodalite

Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

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

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Regional Metamorphism

Impact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Wind Erosion

Coastal Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

Conchoidal

Streak

White

Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Greasy to Dull

Not Available

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

225.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Poor

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

1.6

Specific Gravity

2.6

2.86-2.87

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

2.6 g/cm³

2.7-3.3 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam

India, Russia

Africa

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

South Africa

Europe

Andorra, Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden

Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey

Others

Greenland

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela

Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia

New Zealand, Queensland

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Borolanite and Gabbro Properties

Know all about Borolanite and Gabbro properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Borolanite and Gabbro belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Borolanite is Granular whereas that of Gabbro is Phaneritic. Borolanite appears Banded and Foilated and Gabbro appears Veined and Shiny. The luster of Borolanite is greasy to dull while that of Gabbro is not available. Borolanite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Gabbro is available in dark grey to black colors. The commercial uses of Borolanite are cemetery markers and that of Gabbro are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones.