Larvikite and Mugearite

Larvikite

Mugearite

Definition

Larvikite is an igneous rock and a variety of monzonite, notable for the presence of thumbnail-sized crystals of feldspar

Mugearite is a type of oligoclase bearing basalt, also comprising of olivine, apatite, and opaque oxides

History

Origin

Larvik, Norway

Skye, Scotland

Discoverer

Unknown

Alfred Harker

Etymology

From the town of Larvik in Norway, where this type of igneous rock is found

From mugear +‎ -ite

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Volcanic

Other Categories

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

Opaque Rock

Texture

Phaneritic

Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular

Color

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Shiny

Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Creating Artwork

Types

Quartz Monzonite, Syenite and Diorite

Alkaline Basalt, Boninite, High Alumina Basalt, Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB), Tholeiitic Basalt, Basaltic trachyandesite, Mugearite and Shoshonite

Features

Available in lots of colors, Is one of the oldest rock

Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock

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

Larvikite 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.

Mugearite forms when lava reaches the Earth's surface near an active volcano. The temperature of lava is between 1100 to 1250° C when it gets to the surface.

Composition

Mineral Content

Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon

Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

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

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion

Not Applicable

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Not Applicable

Fracture

Not Available

Conchoidal

Streak

White

White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Not Available

Compressive Strength

310.00 N/mm²

37.50 N/mm²

Cleavage

Not Available

Not Applicable

Toughness

Not Available

2.3

Specific Gravity

2.8-3

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.9-2.91 g/cm³

2.9-3.1 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K

0.84 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

India, Russia

Africa

Not Yet Found

South Africa

Europe

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Iceland

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada, USA

South America

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

Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Larvikite and Mugearite Properties

Know all about Larvikite and Mugearite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Larvikite and Mugearite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Larvikite is Phaneritic whereas that of Mugearite is Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular. Larvikite appears Shiny and Mugearite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Larvikite is subvitreous to dull while that of Mugearite is not available. Larvikite and Mugearite are available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Larvikite and Mugearite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork.