Diabase and Taconite

Diabase

Taconite

Taconite and Diabase

Definition

Diabase is a fine-grained igneous rock which is composed mostly of pyroxene and feldspar

Taconite is a low-grade iron ore which belongs to sedimentary rock and containing about 27% iron and 51% silica

History

Origin

Germany

Western Australia, Minnesota

Discoverer

Christian Leopold von Buch

Newton Horace Winchell

Etymology

From Greek di + base

From the name of Taconic Mountains in New England

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Aphanitic, Granular

Banded, Trellis

Color

Dark Grey to Black

Red, Reddish Brown

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Vesicular

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

As Dimension Stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones

As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Not Available

Features

Smooth to touch

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Present

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.

Taconite is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock as it flows. When the river reaches a lake or sea, its load of transported rocks settles or deposits at the bottom of sea or lake.

Composition

Mineral Content

Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine

Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide

Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

Grain Size

Fine to Medium Grained

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Streak

Black

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Not Available

Earthy

Compressive Strength

225.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Not Available

Imperfect

Toughness

1.6

1.5

Specific Gravity

2.86-2.87

5-5.3

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.7-3.3 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

3.20 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India

China, India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Africa

South Africa, Tanzania

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey

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

Others

Antarctica, Greenland

Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

Canada, Mexico, USA

South America

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Bolivia, Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Diabase and Taconite Properties

Know all about Diabase and Taconite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Diabase belongs to Igneous Rocks while Taconite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Diabase is Aphanitic, Granular whereas that of Taconite is Banded, Trellis. Diabase appears Vesicular and Taconite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Diabase is not available while that of Taconite is earthy. Diabase is available in dark grey to black colors whereas Taconite is available in red, reddish brown 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 Taconite are as a touchstone, cemetery markers, creating artwork.