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Gneiss
Gneiss

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Gneiss vs Obsidian

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1 Definition
1.1 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
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
Unknown
Ethiopia
1.2.2 Discoverer
Unknown
Obsius
1.3 Etymology
From the Middle High German verb gneist (to spark; so called because the rock glitters)
From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius
1.4 Class
Metamorphic Rocks
Igneous Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
Not Applicable
Volcanic
1.6 Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Banded, Foliated, Platy
Glassy
2.2 Color
Black, Brown, Pink, Red, White
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow
2.3 Maintenance
More
Less
2.4 Durability
Durable
Durable
2.4.1 Water Resistant
81% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
81% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
65% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
86% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
42% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
66% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
19% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
49% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
15% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
48% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
2.5 Appearance
Foliated
Shiny
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
Garden Decoration
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Not Yet Used
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Surgery
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Jewellery
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Jewelry, Tombstones, Used in aquariums
Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums
4 Types
4.1 Types
Augen Gneiss, Henderson Gneiss, Lewisian Gneiss, Archean and Proterozoic Gneiss.
Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian
4.2 Features
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
Used
Not Yet Used
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Konark Sun Temple in India, Washington Monument, US
Not Applicable
4.3.3 Sculpture
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
4.3.5 Pictographs
Not Used
Used
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
Not Used
Used
4.3.7 Figurines
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
4.4 Fossils
Absent
Absent
5 Formation
5.1 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.
When the lava is released from volcano, it undergoes a very rapid cooling which freezes the mechanisms of crystallization. The result is a volcanic glass with a uniform smooth texture.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica, Zircon
Not Available
5.2.2 Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, MnO, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
50% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
97% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Impact Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
65% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
99% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
77% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
92% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
7
5-5.5
6.1.2 Grain Size
Medium to Coarse Grained
Not Applicable
6.1.3 Fracture
Irregular
Conchoidal
6.1.4 Streak
White
White
6.1.5 Porosity
Very Less Porous
Very Less Porous
6.1.6 Luster
Dull
Vitreous
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
Flint
125.00 N/mm2
Rank: 17 (Overall)
0.15 N/mm2
Rank: 33 (Overall)
Obsidian
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6.1.8 Cleavage
Poor
Non-Existent
6.1.9 Toughness
1.2
Not Available
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
2.5-2.7
2.6-2.7
6.1.11 Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
Translucent
6.1.12 Density
2.6-2.9 g/cm3
2.6 g/cm3
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
Banded iron for..
Not Available
Rank: N/A (Overall)
0.92 kJ/Kg K
Rank: 10 (Overall)
Granulite
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6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
China, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
7.1.2 Africa
Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo
Kenya
7.1.3 Europe
Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
7.1.4 Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA
Canada, Mexico, USA
7.2.2 South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria
New Zealand

Gneiss vs Obsidian Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Gneiss and Obsidian Reserves. 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. Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Gneiss vs Obsidian information and Gneiss vs Obsidian characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Gneiss vs Obsidian 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. Gneiss vs Obsidian characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Gneiss and Properties of Obsidian. Learn more about Gneiss vs Obsidian in the next section. The interior uses of Gneiss include Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Obsidian include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Gneiss and Obsidian, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Gneiss in construction industry include As dimension stone and that of Obsidian include Arrowheads, Cutting tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear points.

More about Gneiss and Obsidian

Here you can know more about Gneiss and Obsidian. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Gneiss and Obsidian consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Gneiss includes Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica, Zircon and mineral content of Obsidian is not available. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Gneiss vs Obsidian, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors whereas, Obsidian is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors. Appearance of Gneiss is Foliated and that of Obsidian is Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Gneiss vs Obsidian. The hardness of Gneiss is 7 and that of Obsidian is 5-5.5. The types of Gneiss are Augen Gneiss, Henderson Gneiss, Lewisian Gneiss, Archean and Proterozoic Gneiss. whereas types of Obsidian are Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Gneiss and Obsidian is white. The specific heat capacity of Gneiss is Not Available and that of Obsidian is 0.92 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Gneiss is heat resistant, pressure resistant, scratch resistant, wear resistant whereas Obsidian is heat resistant, impact resistant.