Felsite and Breccia
Definition
Definition
Felsite is a very fine grained volcanic rock that may or may not contain larger crystals and light colored rock that typically requires petrographic examination or chemical analysis for more precise definition
Breccia is a rock consisting of angular fragments of stones which are cemented by finer calcareous material
History
Origin
Unknown
England
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
From English feldspar and -ite
From Italian, literally gravel, Germanic origin and related to break
Class
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Family
Group
Volcanic
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Texture
Arborescent Patterned, Vitreous
Brecciated, Clastic
Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow
Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Buff, Green, Grey, Orange, Pink, Purple, Red, Rust, White, Yellow
Maintenance
Less
Less
Durability
Durable
Durable
Water Resistant
Yes
Yes
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Stain Resistant
No
Yes
Wind Resistant
Yes
Yes
Acid Resistant
No
No
Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
Uses
Architecture
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Industry
Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
Medical Industry
Surgery
Not Yet Used
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Sculpture
Other Uses
Commercial Uses
Mirror, Jewelry
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry
Types
Types
Not Available
Collapse Breccia, Fault Breccia, Flow Breccia, Pyroclastic Breccia, Igneous Breccia and Impact Breccia
Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Clasts are smooth to touch, Splintery, Very fine grained rock
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Clasts are smooth to touch
Archaeological Significance
Monuments
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
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
Fossils
Absent
Present
Formation
Formation
Felsite 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.
Breccia is a clastic sedimentary rock which is composed of broken fragments of minerals or rock which are cemented together by a fine-grained matrix and it forms where broken, angular fragments of rock or mineral debris accumulate.
Composition
Mineral Content
Feldspar, Iron Oxides
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Phosphates, Quartz, Silica
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Aluminium Oxide, Ca, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Transformation
Metamorphism
Yes
Yes
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism
Weathering
Yes
Yes
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Erosion
Yes
Yes
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion
Chemical Erosion
Properties
Physical Properties
Hardness
5-5.5
7
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Medium to Coarse Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal
Uneven
Streak
White
White
Porosity
Very Less Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Vitreous
Dull to Pearly
Compressive Strength
0.15 N/mm2
33
Not Available
Cleavage
Non-Existent
Non-Existent
Toughness
Not Available
Not Available
Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7
2.86-2.87
Transparency
Translucent
Opaque
Density
2.6 g/cm3
0 g/cm3
Thermal Properties
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
10
Not Available
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Reserves
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, South Korea, Uzbekistan
Africa
Kenya
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Others
Not Yet Found
Greenland
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
Barbados, Canada, Mexico, Panama, USA
South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
Brazil
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New Zealand
New South Wales, New Zealand
All about Felsite and Breccia Properties
Know all about Felsite and Breccia properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Felsite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Breccia belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Felsite is Arborescent Patterned, Vitreous whereas that of Breccia is Brecciated, Clastic. Felsite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and Breccia appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Felsite is vitreous while that of Breccia is dull to pearly. Felsite is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors whereas Breccia is available in beige, black, blue, brown, buff, green, grey, orange, pink, purple, red, rust, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Felsite are mirror, jewelry and that of Breccia are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry.
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