Gabbro and Aplite

Gabbro

Aplite

Aplite and Gabbro

Definition

Gabbro is an intrusive igneous rock which is chemically equivalent to plutonic Basalt

Aplite is a fine-grained granite composed mainly of feldspar and quartz

History

Origin

Germany

Iran

Discoverer

Christian Leopold von Buch

Unknown

Etymology

From Latin glaber bare, smooth, bald

From German Aplit, from Greek haploos simple + -ite

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Phaneritic

Granular, Graphic

Color

Dark Grey to Black

Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Veined and Shiny

Veined or Pebbled

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Bridges, Paving Stone, Near Swimming Pools, Office Buildings, Resorts

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

As Dimension Stone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones

Curling, Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Small Sculptures, Tombstones

Types

Not Available

Features

Smooth to touch

Available in lots of colors, Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Gabbro, a mafic rock, forms due to cooling and crystallization of magma underneath Earth's surface.

Aplites belong to intrusive igneous rocks which are mostly quart and alkali feldspar and are formed from residual eutectic granitic liquids and represent the final crystallization products of magma.

Composition

Mineral Content

Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Impact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6.5

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Very fine-grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Not Available

Streak

Black

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Not Available

Dull to Pearly to Subvitreous

Compressive Strength

225.00 N/mm²

130.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Not Available

Toughness

1.6

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.86-2.87

2.6

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.7-3.3 g/cm³

2.6 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

0.79 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India, Russia

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

South Africa

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Venezuela

Others

Greenland

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Gabbro and Aplite Properties

Know all about Gabbro and Aplite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gabbro and Aplite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Gabbro is Phaneritic whereas that of Aplite is Granular, Graphic. Gabbro appears Veined and Shiny and Aplite appears Veined or Pebbled. The luster of Gabbro is not available while that of Aplite is dull to pearly to subvitreous. Gabbro is available in dark grey to black colors whereas Aplite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Gabbro are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones and that of Aplite are curling, gemstone, laboratory bench tops, small sculptures, tombstones.