Definition
Latite is an igneous, volcanic rock, with aphanitic-aphyric to aphyric-porphyritic texture
  
Rhyolite is a fine-grained igneous rock which is rich in silica
  
History
  
  
Origin
Italy
  
North America
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Ferdinand von Richthofen
  
Etymology
From the Latin word latium
  
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
Volcanic
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
  
Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Grey, White, Light Black
  
Maintenance
Less
  
More
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Rough
  
Banded
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Not Yet Used
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
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
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Metallurgical Flux, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry
  
Types
Rhomb porphyries
  
Pumice Rocks, Obsidian Rocks, Perlite Rocks, Porphyritic Rocks.
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
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
Latite 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
Alkali feldspar, Biotite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
  
Compound Content
CaO, Cl, MgO
  
Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5-5.5
  
6-7
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Large and Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Sub-conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
Colorless
  
Porosity
Very Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Earthy
  
Compressive Strength
310.00 N/mm2
  
2
140.00 N/mm2
  
15
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
2.7
  
2
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
2.65-2.67
  
Transparency
Translucent
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
2.4-2.6 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Not Yet Found
  
China, India
  
Africa
Not Yet Found
  
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
  
Europe
Bulgaria
  
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
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
  
Latite vs Rhyolite 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. Latite vs Rhyolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Latite and Properties of Rhyolite. Learn more about Latite vs Rhyolite in the next section. The interior uses of Latite include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Rhyolite include Decorative aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior decoration and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Latite and Rhyolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Latite in construction industry include As a flux in the production of steel and pig iron, As a sintering agent in steel industry to process iron ore, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories and that of Rhyolite include Arrowheads, As dimension stone, Building houses or walls, Construction aggregate, Cutting tool, For road aggregate, Knives.
More about Latite and Rhyolite
Here you can know more about Latite and Rhyolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Latite and Rhyolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Latite includes Alkali feldspar, Biotite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene and mineral content of Rhyolite includes Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Latite vs Rhyolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Latite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas, Rhyolite is available in grey, white, light black colors. Appearance of Latite is Rough and that of Rhyolite is Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Latite vs Rhyolite. The hardness of Latite is 5-5.5 and that of Rhyolite is 6-7. The types of Latite are Rhomb porphyries whereas types of Rhyolite are Pumice Rocks, Obsidian Rocks, Perlite Rocks, Porphyritic Rocks.. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Latite is white while that of Rhyolite is colorless. The specific heat capacity of Latite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Rhyolite is Not Available. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Latite is heat resistant, pressure resistant whereas Rhyolite is heat resistant, wear resistant.