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Dacite and Chert


Chert and Dacite


Definition

Definition
Dacite is a volcanic igneous rock which is rintermediate in composition between andesite and rhyolite   
Chert is a hard, dark, opaque sedimentary rock which is composed of silica with an amorphous fine-grained texture   

History
  
  

Origin
Romania and Moldova, Europe   
Unknown   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Dacia, a province of the Roman Empire which lay between the Danube River and Carpathian Mountains where the rock was first described   
From flint-like quartz, 1670s, of unknown origin- a local term, which has been taken into geological use   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Not Applicable   

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

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic   
Banded, Rough   

Color
Bluish - Grey, Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey   
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
No   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Vesicular   
Glassy or Pearly   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Homes   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping   
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts   
Artifacts, Monuments   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork   
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms   

Types

Types
Footwall Dacite, Hanging wall Dacite, Tuff and Biotite Dacite   
Flint, Jasper, Radiolarite, Common Chert, Chalcedony, Agate, Onyx, Opal, Magadi-type Chert, Porcelanite, Siliceous Sinter   

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock   
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

Sculpture
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Pictographs
Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Present   

Formation

Formation
Dacitic magma is formed by the subduction of young oceanic crust under a thick felsic continental plate. Further, the Oceanic crust is hydrothermally altered as quartz and sodium are added.   
Chert forms when microcrystals of silicon dioxide grow within soft sediments that become limestone or chalk. The chert formation can be either of chemical or biological origin.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon   
Quartz, Silicon   

Compound Content
Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide   
Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
No   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Not Applicable   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion   
Chemical Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
2-2.25   
6.5-7   

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Waxy and Dull   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
450.00 N/mm2   
1

Cleavage
Perfect   
Non-Existent   

Toughness
Not Available   
1.5   

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87   
2.5-2.8   

Transparency
Translucent   
Translucent to Opaque   

Density
2.77-2.771 g/cm3   
2.7 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
0.74 kJ/Kg K   
19

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Not Yet Found   
China, India, Iran, Japan, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam   

Africa
Not Yet Found   
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania   

Europe
France, Greece, Romania, Scotland, Spain   
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, Mexico, USA   

South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela   
Bolivia, Brazil   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Dacite and Chert Properties

Know all about Dacite and Chert properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Dacite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Chert belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Dacite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Chert is Banded, Rough. Dacite appears Vesicular and Chert appears Glassy or Pearly. The luster of Dacite is subvitreous to dull while that of Chert is waxy and dull. Dacite is available in bluish - grey, brown, grey, light to dark grey colors whereas Chert is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Dacite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Chert are creating artwork, gemstone, in fire-starting tools, jewelry, to ignite fire, used in flintlock firearms.

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