Gneiss and Migmatite

Gneiss

Migmatite

Definition

Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks

Migmatite is typically a granitic rock within a metamorphic host rock which is composed of two intermingled but distinguishable components

History

Origin

Unknown

Southern Alps, France

Discoverer

Unknown

Jakob Sederholm

Etymology

From the Middle High German verb gneist (to spark; so called because the rock glitters)

From the Greek word migma which means a mixture

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Banded, Foliated, Platy

Foliated

Color

Black, Brown, Pink, Red, White

Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Brown- Black, Dark Greenish - Grey, Dark Grey to Black

Maintenance

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Foliated

Dull, Banded and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Countertops, Flooring, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Jewelry, Tombstones, Used in aquariums

Cemetery Markers, Jewelry, Tombstones, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends

Types

Augen Gneiss, Henderson Gneiss, Lewisian Gneiss, Archean and Proterozoic Gneiss.

Diatexites and Metatexites

Features

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Konark Sun Temple in India, Washington Monument, US

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Gneiss is a high grade metamorphic rock i.e. it has been subjected to higher temperatures and pressures than schist. It is formed by the metamorphosis of Gneiss forms from volcanic rock, shale or granitie.

Migmatites form by high temperature regional and thermal metamorphism of protolith rocks where rocks melt partially due to high temperature.

Composition

Mineral Content

Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica, Zircon

Compound Content

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

Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, MnO, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Impact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6.5

Grain Size

Medium to Coarse Grained

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Irregular

Streak

White

Porosity

Very Less Porous

Luster

Dull

Dull to Pearly to Subvitreous

Compressive Strength

125.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Poor

Toughness

1.2

Specific Gravity

2.5-2.7

2.65-2.75

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

2.6-2.9 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia

Africa

Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo

Europe

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Sweden, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA

South America

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Gneiss and Migmatite Properties

Know all about Gneiss and Migmatite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gneiss and Migmatite belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Gneiss is Banded, Foliated, Platy whereas that of Migmatite is Foliated. Gneiss appears Foliated and Migmatite appears Dull, Banded and Foilated. The luster of Gneiss is dull while that of Migmatite is dull to pearly to subvitreous. Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors whereas Migmatite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, brown- black, dark greenish - grey, dark grey to black colors. The commercial uses of Gneiss are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used in aquariums and that of Migmatite are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends.