Definition
Diamictite is a sedimentary rock that consists of non-sorted to poorly sorted terrigenous sediment containing particles that range in size from clay to boulders, suspended in a matrix of mudstone or sandstone
Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene (variety augite).
Origin
Southern Mongolia
Brazil
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
From Greek dia through and meiktós or mixed
from French néphéline, from Greek nephelē
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Igneous Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Group
Not Applicable
Plutonic
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Clastic
Aphanitic
Color
Brown, Buff
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Banded
Skeletal
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone
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, Roadstone
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Production of Lime
Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Types
Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite
Peralkaline Nephelinite
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock
Host Rock for Lead
Archaeological Significance
Monuments
Not Yet Used
Used
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
Data Not Available
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
Used
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
Data Not Available
Pictographs
Used
Not Used
Petroglyphs
Used
Not Used
Figurines
Not Yet Used
Used
Formation
Diamictite is unevenly sorted terrigenous, non-calcareous sedimentary rock which forms due to weathering of mudstone and sandstone.
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
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase
Compound Content
Not Available
Ca, CaO, Carbon, Cl, MgO
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
Contact Metamorphism
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven
Flat
Streak
Light to dark brown
White
Porosity
Highly Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous
Vitreous to Metallic
Compressive Strength
Not Available
Cleavage
Not Available
Imperfect
Toughness
Not Available
2.7
Specific Gravity
4.3-5.0
2.4-2.9
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.2-2.35 g/cm3
2.5-3 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Heat Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia
Japan
Africa
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
Rwanda, Tanzania
Europe
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Not Yet Found
Others
Not Yet Found
Hawaii Islands
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada, USA
South America
Brazil, Venezuela
Colombia
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand
Not Yet Found
All about Diamictite and Nephelinite Properties
Know all about Diamictite and Nephelinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Diamictite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Nephelinite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Diamictite is Clastic whereas that of Nephelinite is Aphanitic. Diamictite appears Banded and Nephelinite appears Skeletal. The luster of Diamictite is grainy, pearly and vitreous while that of Nephelinite is vitreous to metallic. Diamictite is available in brown, buff colors whereas Nephelinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Diamictite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork, production of lime and that of Nephelinite are creating artwork, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo).