1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Breccia is a rock consisting of angular fragments of stones which are cemented by finer calcareous material
Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
1.2.2 Discoverer
1.3 Etymology
From Italian, literally gravel, Germanic origin and related to break
From pseudo- + tachylite, a glassy rock generated by frictional heat within faults.
1.4 Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1.6 Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Brecciated, Clastic
Quench
2.2 Color
Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Green, Grey, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Rust, White, Yellow
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
2.3 Maintenance
2.4 Durability
2.4.1 Water Resistant
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
2.5 Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
Dull and Soft
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry
Creating Artwork, Gemstone
4 Types
4.1 Types
Collapse Breccia, Fault Breccia, Flow Breccia, Pyroclastic Breccia, Igneous Breccia and Impact Breccia
Not Available
4.2 Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Clasts are smooth to touch
Host Rock for Lead
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
Data Not Available
4.3.3 Sculpture
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Not Applicable
4.3.5 Pictographs
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
4.3.7 Figurines
4.4 Fossils
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
Breccia is a clastic sedimentary rock which is composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock which are cemented together by a fine-grained matrix and it forms where broken, angular fragments of rock or mineral debris accumulate.
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Pseudotachylite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Phosphates, Quartz, Silica
Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides
5.2.2 Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, Ca, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Not Applicable
5.3.5 Erosion
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion
Not Applicable
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Medium to Coarse Grained
Very fine-grained
6.1.3 Fracture
6.1.4 Streak
White
Light to dark brown
6.1.5 Porosity
6.1.6 Luster
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
6.1.8 Cleavage
6.1.9 Toughness
Not Available
Not Available
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
Opaque
Transparent to Translucent
6.1.12 Density
0 g/cm32.7-2.9 g/cm3
0
1400
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
South Korea
7.1.2 Africa
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
Western Africa
7.1.3 Europe
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Great Britain, Switzerland
7.1.4 Others
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
Barbados, Canada, Mexico, Panama, USA
Not Yet Found
7.2.2 South America
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand
Central Australia, Western Australia