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Foidolite and Chert


Chert and Foidolite


Definition

Definition
Foidolite is a rare type of coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock with a feldspathoid mineral content greater than 60%   
Chert is a hard, dark, opaque sedimentary rock which is composed of silica with an amorphous fine-grained texture   

History
  
  

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From the mineral feldspathoid which is the main content of rock   
From flint-like quartz, 1670s, of unknown origin- a local term, which has been taken into geological use   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Earthy   
Banded, Rough   

Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White   
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
No   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Dull   
Glassy or Pearly   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Homes   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate   
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points   

Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Monuments   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork   
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Flint, Jasper, Radiolarite, Common Chert, Chalcedony, Agate, Onyx, Opal, Magadi-type Chert, Porcelanite, Siliceous Sinter   

Features
Host Rock for Lead   
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Sculpture
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

Pictographs
Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Present   

Formation

Formation
Foidolites 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.   
Chert forms when microcrystals of silicon dioxide grow within soft sediments that become limestone or chalk. The chert formation can be either of chemical or biological origin.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   
Quartz, Silicon   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO   
Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
No   
No   

Types of Weathering
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Erosion
No   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Not Applicable   
Chemical Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
1.5   
6.5-7   

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Very Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Waxy and Dull   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
450.00 N/mm2   
1

Cleavage
Perfect   
Non-Existent   

Toughness
Not Available   
1.5   

Specific Gravity
2.86   
2.5-2.8   

Transparency
Translucent   
Translucent to Opaque   

Density
Not Available   
2.7 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available   
0.74 kJ/Kg K   
19

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Russia   
China, India, Iran, Japan, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam   

Africa
South Africa, Western Africa   
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania   

Europe
Not Yet Found   
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
Canada, Mexico, USA   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Bolivia, Brazil   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia   
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Foidolite and Chert Properties

Know all about Foidolite and Chert properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Foidolite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Chert belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Foidolite is Earthy whereas that of Chert is Banded, Rough. Foidolite appears Dull and Chert appears Glassy or Pearly. The luster of Foidolite is subvitreous to dull while that of Chert is waxy and dull. Foidolite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Chert is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Foidolite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Chert are creating artwork, gemstone, in fire-starting tools, jewelry, to ignite fire, used in flintlock firearms.

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