Litchfieldite and Cataclasite

Litchfieldite

Cataclasite

Definition

Litchfieldite is a rare igneous rock which is coarse-grained, foliated and a variety of nepheline syenite, sometimes also called as nepheline syenite gneiss or gneissic nepeheline syenite

Cataclasite is a type of cataclastic rock that is formed by fracturing and comminution during faulting. It is normally cohesive and non-foliated, consisting of angular clasts in a finer-grained matrix

History

Origin

USA

Swiss Alps, Europe

Discoverer

Bayley

Michael Tellinger

Etymology

From its occurrence at Litchfield, Maine, USA

From the Italian word cataclasi

Class

Igneous Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Granular

Clastic

Color

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

Brown, Green, White, Yellow

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Dull and Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, 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, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork

Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Borolanite and Litchfieldite

Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite

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

Easily splits into thin plates, Is one of the oldest rock

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

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Litchfieldite 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.

Cataclasiste rocks mainly form by pressure deep under the Earth's surface, from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

3-4

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

Streak

White

Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Greasy to Dull

Vitreous

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Poor

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.6

2.1

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.6 g/cm³

2.9-3.1 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea

Africa

South Africa

Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa

Europe

Finland, Norway, Portugal

England, Finland, France, Spain, United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil

Argentina, Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Not Yet Found

Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Litchfieldite and Cataclasite Properties

Know all about Litchfieldite and Cataclasite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Litchfieldite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Cataclasite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Litchfieldite is Granular whereas that of Cataclasite is Clastic. Litchfieldite appears Banded and Foilated and Cataclasite appears Dull and Banded. The luster of Litchfieldite is greasy to dull while that of Cataclasite is vitreous. Litchfieldite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Cataclasite is available in brown, green, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Litchfieldite are creating artwork and that of Cataclasite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork.