Litchfieldite and Harzburgite

Litchfieldite

Harzburgite

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

Harzburgite is a plutonic rock of the peridotite group consisting largely of orthopyroxene and olivine

History

Origin

USA

Germany

Discoverer

Bayley

Unknown

Etymology

From its occurrence at Litchfield, Maine, USA

From the name of a town in Harzburg, Germany

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Granular

Phaneritic

Color

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

Dark Greenish - Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Rough and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

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

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Source of Chromite, Platinum, Nickel and Garnet, Source of Diamonds

Types

Borolanite and Litchfieldite

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

Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

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

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.

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.

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

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

Ca, Fe, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Impact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

Irregular

Streak

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Greasy to Dull

Shiny

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Poor

Imperfect

Toughness

Not Available

2.1

Specific Gravity

2.6

3-3.01

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.6 g/cm³

3.1-3.4 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

1.25 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

Japan, Oman

Africa

South Africa

Europe

Finland, Norway, Portugal

France, Germany, Italy, Venezuela

Others

Not Yet Found

Hawaii Islands, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Litchfieldite and Harzburgite Properties

Know all about Litchfieldite and Harzburgite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Litchfieldite and Harzburgite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Litchfieldite is Granular whereas that of Harzburgite is Phaneritic. Litchfieldite appears Banded and Foilated and Harzburgite appears Rough and Shiny. The luster of Litchfieldite is greasy to dull while that of Harzburgite is shiny. Litchfieldite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Harzburgite is available in dark greenish - grey colors. The commercial uses of Litchfieldite are creating artwork and that of Harzburgite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, source of chromite, platinum, nickel and garnet, source of diamonds.