Definition
Dacite is a volcanic igneous rock which is rintermediate in composition between andesite and rhyolite
Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene (variety augite).
Origin
Romania and Moldova, Europe
Brazil
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 French néphéline, from Greek nephelē
Class
Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
Aphanitic
Color
Bluish - Grey, Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Vesicular
Skeletal
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork
Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Types
Footwall Dacite, Hanging wall Dacite, Tuff and Biotite Dacite
Peralkaline Nephelinite
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock
Host Rock for Lead
Archaeological Significance
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.
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.
Mineral Content
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon
Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase
Compound Content
Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide
Ca, CaO, Carbon, Cl, MgO
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism
Contact Metamorphism
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
Fine Grained
Porosity
Less Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
Vitreous to Metallic
Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87
2.4-2.9
Transparency
Translucent
Opaque
Density
2.77-2.771 g/cm3
2.5-3 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Africa
-
Rwanda, Tanzania
Europe
France, Greece, Romania, Scotland, Spain
-
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
USA
Canada, USA
South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Colombia
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia
-
All about Dacite and Nephelinite Properties
Know all about Dacite and Nephelinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Dacite and Nephelinite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Dacite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Nephelinite is Aphanitic. Dacite appears Vesicular and Nephelinite appears Skeletal. The luster of Dacite is subvitreous to dull while that of Nephelinite is vitreous to metallic. Dacite is available in bluish - grey, brown, grey, light to dark grey colors whereas Nephelinite is available in black, brown, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Dacite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Nephelinite are creating artwork, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo).