Diabase and Nephelinite
Definition
Definition
Diabase is a fine-grained igneous rock which is composed mostly of pyroxene and feldspar
Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene (variety augite).
History
Origin
Germany
Brazil
Discoverer
Christian Leopold von Buch
Unknown
Etymology
From Greek di + base
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, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Texture
Aphanitic, Granular
Aphanitic
Color
Dark Grey to Black
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
Maintenance
Less
Less
Durability
Durable
Durable
Water Resistant
Yes
Yes
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Stain Resistant
Yes
Yes
Wind Resistant
Yes
Yes
Acid Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Vesicular
Skeletal
Uses
Architecture
Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
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
Curbing
Industry
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Other Uses
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones
Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Types
Types
Not Available
Peralkaline Nephelinite
Features
Smooth to touch
Host Rock for Lead
Archaeological Significance
Monuments
Used
Used
Famous Monuments
Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
Data Not Available
Sculpture
Used
Used
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Pictographs
Not Used
Not Used
Petroglyphs
Not Used
Not Used
Figurines
Used
Used
Fossils
Absent
Absent
Formation
Formation
Diabase forms when molten igneous rock is squeezed up into a vertical crack in other rocks, the crack is usually forced apart and the molten rock cools in the space to form a tabular igneous intrusion cutting across the surrounding rocks and is known as a dike.
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
Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine
Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide
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, Chemical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Erosion
Yes
Yes
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Properties
Physical Properties
Hardness
7
6.5
Grain Size
Fine to Medium Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal
Flat
Streak
Black
White
Porosity
Highly Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Not Available
Vitreous to Metallic
Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm2
7
35.00 N/mm2
29
Cleavage
Not Available
Imperfect
Toughness
1.6
2.7
Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87
2.4-2.9
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.7-3.3 g/cm3
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
India
Japan
Africa
South Africa, Tanzania
Rwanda, Tanzania
Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey
Not Yet Found
Others
Antarctica, Greenland
Hawaii Islands
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada, USA
South America
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
Colombia
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia
Not Yet Found
All about Diabase and Nephelinite Properties
Know all about Diabase and Nephelinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Diabase and Nephelinite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Diabase is Aphanitic, Granular whereas that of Nephelinite is Aphanitic. Diabase appears Vesicular and Nephelinite appears Skeletal. The luster of Diabase is not available while that of Nephelinite is vitreous to metallic. Diabase is available in dark grey to black colors whereas Nephelinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Diabase are an oil and gas reservoir, cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones and that of Nephelinite are creating artwork, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo).
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