Home
Compare Rocks


Harzburgite and Rhyolite


Rhyolite and Harzburgite


Definition

Definition
Harzburgite is a plutonic rock of the peridotite group consisting largely of orthopyroxene and olivine   
Rhyolite is a fine-grained igneous rock which is rich in silica   

History
  
  

Origin
Germany   
North America   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Ferdinand von Richthofen   

Etymology
From the name of a town in Harzburg, Germany   
From German Rhyolit, from Greek rhuax lava stream + lithos stone   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Volcanic   

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Phaneritic   
Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic   

Color
Dark Greenish - Grey   
Grey, White, Light Black   

Maintenance
Less   
More   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Rough and Shiny   
Banded   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Not Yet Used   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones   
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Knives   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Source of Chromite, Platinum, Nickel and Garnet, Source of Diamonds   
Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Pumice Rocks, Obsidian Rocks, Perlite Rocks, Porphyritic Rocks.   

Features
Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock   
Acidic in nature, Available in lots of colors   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

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   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Harzburgite 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.   
Rhyolite is a felsic extrusive rock and due to its high silica content, rhyolite lava is very viscous and is volcanic equivalent of granite.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   
Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz   

Compound Content
Ca, Fe, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium, Titanium Dioxide   
Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Impact Metamorphism   
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5.5-6   
6-7   

Grain Size
Coarse Grained   
Large and Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Irregular   
Sub-conchoidal   

Streak
White   
Colorless   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Shiny   
Earthy   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
140.00 N/mm2   
15

Cleavage
Imperfect   
Not Available   

Toughness
2.1   
2   

Specific Gravity
3-3.01   
2.65-2.67   

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
3.1-3.4 g/cm3   
2.4-2.6 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
1.25 kJ/Kg K   
6
Not Available   

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Japan, Oman   
China, India   

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

Europe
France, Germany, Italy, Venezuela   
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain   

Others
Hawaii Islands, Mid-Atlantic Ridge   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Not Yet Found   
New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Harzburgite and Rhyolite Properties

Know all about Harzburgite and Rhyolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Harzburgite and Rhyolite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Harzburgite is Phaneritic whereas that of Rhyolite is Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic. Harzburgite appears Rough and Shiny and Rhyolite appears Banded. The luster of Harzburgite is shiny while that of Rhyolite is earthy. Harzburgite is available in dark greenish - grey colors whereas Rhyolite is available in grey, white, light black colors. The commercial uses of Harzburgite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, source of chromite, platinum, nickel and garnet, source of diamonds and that of Rhyolite are gemstone, laboratory bench tops, jewelry.

Compare Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

» More Igneous Rocks

Compare Igneous Rocks

» More Compare Igneous Rocks