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
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Clastic
Aphanitic
Color
Brown, Buff
Black, Brown, 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
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
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
-
Ca, CaO, Carbon, Cl, MgO
Types of Metamorphism
-
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
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
-
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
-
Diamictite vs Nephelinite Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Diamictite vs Nephelinite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Diamictite and Properties of Nephelinite. Learn more about Diamictite vs Nephelinite in the next section. The interior uses of Diamictite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Nephelinite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Diamictite and Nephelinite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Diamictite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone and that of Nephelinite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate.
More about Diamictite and Nephelinite
Here you can know more about Diamictite and Nephelinite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Diamictite and Nephelinite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Diamictite includes Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz and mineral content of Nephelinite includes Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Diamictite vs Nephelinite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Diamictite is available in brown, buff colors whereas, Nephelinite is available in black, brown, green, grey, white colors. Appearance of Diamictite is Banded and that of Nephelinite is Skeletal. Properties of rock is another aspect for Diamictite vs Nephelinite. The hardness of Diamictite is 2-3 and that of Nephelinite is 6.5. The types of Diamictite are Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite whereas types of Nephelinite are Peralkaline Nephelinite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Diamictite is light to dark brown while that of Nephelinite is white. The specific heat capacity of Diamictite is 0.75 kJ/Kg K and that of Nephelinite is 0.88 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Diamictite is heat resistant, impact resistant whereas Nephelinite is heat resistant.