Kenyte and Shonkinite

Kenyte

Shonkinite

Definition

Kenyte is a variety of porphyritic phonolite or trachyte rock with rhomb shaped phenocrysts of anorthoclase with variable olivine and augite in a glassy matrix

Shonkinite is a rare, dark-coloured and intrusive igneous rock which contains augite and orthoclase feldspar as its primary constituents

History

Origin

Mount Kenya

USA

Discoverer

J. W. Gregory

Unknown

Etymology

From the mountain ranges- Mount Kenya and is named by J. W. Gregory in 1900

From the name of Shonkin Sag ranges in the Highwood Mountains of north-central Montana, US

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

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

Texture

Glassy, Granular

Earthy

Color

Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Production of Glass and Ceramics

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Not Available

Features

Application of acids on the surface causes cloudy frosting, Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Dissolves in hydrochloric acid, Is one of the oldest rock

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Kenyte 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.

Shonkinites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.

Composition

Mineral Content

Albite, Amphibole, Biotite, Cancrinite, Feldspar, Hornblende, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Sodalite

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

Compound Content

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

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

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

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

Not Available

Streak

White, Greenish White or Grey

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Greasy to Dull

Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Poor

Perfect

Toughness

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.6

2.6-2.7

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

2.6 g/cm³

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam

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

Africa

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

Europe

Andorra, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Others

Greenland

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

USA

South America

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela

Brazil, Chile

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Kenyte and Shonkinite Properties

Know all about Kenyte and Shonkinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Kenyte and Shonkinite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Kenyte is Glassy, Granular whereas that of Shonkinite is Earthy. Kenyte appears Banded and Foilated and Shonkinite appears Banded and Foilated. The luster of Kenyte is greasy to dull while that of Shonkinite is subvitreous to dull. Kenyte and Shonkinite are available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Kenyte and Shonkinite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.