1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Diabase is a fine-grained igneous rock which is composed mostly of pyroxene and feldspar
Picrite is a variety of high-magnesium olivine basalt that is very rich in the mineral olivine
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
1.2.2 Discoverer
Christian Leopold von Buch
Unknown
1.3 Etymology
From Greek di + base
From Greek pikros bitter + -ite, 19th century
1.4 Class
Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
1.6 Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Aphanitic, Granular
Earthy, Rough
2.2 Color
Dark Grey to Black
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White, Yellow
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
Vesicular
Rough and Shiny
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, 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, Paving Stone
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Roadstone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones
As a Feed Additive for Livestock, As armour rock for sea walls, Metallurgical Flux, Pottery, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
4 Types
4.1 Types
4.2 Features
Smooth to touch
Host Rock for Lead
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
Data Not Available
4.3.3 Sculpture
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
4.3.5 Pictographs
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
4.3.7 Figurines
4.4 Fossils
5 Formation
5.1 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.
Picrite 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.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine
Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyrrhotite
5.2.2 Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide
Al, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Mg, MgO
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
Biological Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Fine to Medium Grained
Fine Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
6.1.4 Streak
Black
White, Greenish White or Grey
6.1.5 Porosity
Highly Porous
Less Porous
6.1.6 Luster
Not Available
Subvitreous to Dull
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm2189.00 N/mm2
0.15
450
6.1.8 Cleavage
6.1.9 Toughness
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
6.1.12 Density
2.7-3.3 g/cm31.5-2.5 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
7.1.2 Africa
South Africa, Tanzania
South Africa
7.1.3 Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey
Iceland
7.1.4 Others
Antarctica, Greenland
Not Yet Found
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
7.2.2 South America
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
Brazil
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia
Not Yet Found