Gabbro and Ignimbrite

Gabbro

Ignimbrite

Definition

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

Ignimbrite is a volcanic rock consisting mainly of pumice fragments, formed by the consolidation of material deposited by pyroclastic flows

History

Origin

Germany

New Zealand

Discoverer

Christian Leopold von Buch

Patrick Marshall

Etymology

From Latin glaber bare, smooth, bald

From Latin ignis fire + imber, imbr- shower of rain, storm cloud + -ite

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Volcanic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Phaneritic

Aphanitic

Color

Dark Grey to Black

Beige, Black, Brown, Grey, 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

Dull, Vesicular and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

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

Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate

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

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Not Available

Features

Smooth to touch

Always found as volcanic pipes over deep continental crust

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

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

Ignimbrites are formed from very poorly sorted mixture of volcanic ash or tuff and pumice lapilli, commonly with scattered lithic fragments.

Composition

Mineral Content

Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Hematite, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

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

Ca, NaCl

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Impact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

4-6

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Uneven

Streak

Black

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Not Available

Vitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength

225.00 N/mm²

243.80 N/mm²

Cleavage

Not Available

Toughness

1.6

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.86-2.87

2.73

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.7-3.3 g/cm³

1-1.8 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

0.20 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India, Russia

Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, Yemen

Africa

South Africa

Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

Europe

Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey

France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

Others

Greenland

Antarctica, Hawaii Islands

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland

Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Gabbro and Ignimbrite Properties

Know all about Gabbro and Ignimbrite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gabbro and Ignimbrite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Gabbro is Phaneritic whereas that of Ignimbrite is Aphanitic. Gabbro appears Veined and Shiny and Ignimbrite appears Dull, Vesicular and Foilated. The luster of Gabbro is not available while that of Ignimbrite is vitreous to dull. Gabbro is available in dark grey to black colors whereas Ignimbrite is available in beige, black, brown, grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Gabbro are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones and that of Ignimbrite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork.