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
  
Arkose is a sedimentary rock, specifically a type of sandstone containing at least 25% feldspar
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
France
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Alexandre Brongniart
  
Etymology
From English feldspar and -ite
  
From Auvergne region of France used by a French geologist Alexandre Brongniart in 1826 who applied this term to some feldspathic sandstones
  
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, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Arborescent Patterned, Vitreous
  
Clastic
  
Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow
  
Reddish Brown
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
  
Rough and Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
  
Paving Stone, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Whetstones
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points
  
Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar
  
Medical Industry
Surgery
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Mirror, Jewelry
  
In aquifers, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Tombstones
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
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, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
  
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
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.
  
Arkose rock forms from the weathering of feldspar-rich igneous or metamorphic rock, most commonly granitic rocks, which are primarily composed of quartz and feldspar.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Feldspar, Iron Oxides
  
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Not Applicable
  
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
  
Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5-5.5
  
6-7
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Very Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Vitreous
  
Dull
  
Compressive Strength
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7
  
0
  
Transparency
Translucent
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.6 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
  
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, 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
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
  
Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New Zealand
  
New South Wales, New Zealand
  
Felsite vs Arkose 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. Felsite vs Arkose characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Felsite and Properties of Arkose. Learn more about Felsite vs Arkose in the next section. The interior uses of Felsite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Arkose include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Felsite and Arkose, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Felsite in construction industry include Arrowheads, Cutting tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear points and that of Arkose include Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Production of glass and ceramics, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar.
More about Felsite and Arkose
Here you can know more about Felsite and Arkose. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Felsite and Arkose consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Felsite includes Feldspar, Iron Oxides and mineral content of Arkose includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Felsite vs Arkose, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Felsite is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors whereas, Arkose is available in reddish brown colors. Appearance of Felsite is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and that of Arkose is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Felsite vs Arkose. The hardness of Felsite is 5-5.5 and that of Arkose is 6-7. The types of Felsite are Not Available whereas types of Arkose are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Felsite and Arkose is white. The specific heat capacity of Felsite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Arkose is Not Available. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Felsite is heat resistant, impact resistant whereas Arkose is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.