Litchfieldite

Nephelinite

Litchfieldite and Nephelinite

Litchfieldite

Nephelinite

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1 Definition

1.1 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

Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene (variety augite).

1.2 History

1.2.1 Origin

USA

Brazil

1.2.2 Discoverer

Bayley

Unknown

1.3 Etymology

From its occurrence at Litchfield, Maine, USA

from French néphéline, from Greek nephelē

1.4 Class

Igneous Rocks

1.4.1 Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

1.5 Family

1.5.1 Group

Plutonic

1.6 Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

2 Texture

2.1 Texture

Granular

Aphanitic

2.2 Color

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

Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White

2.3 Maintenance

Less

2.4 Durability

Durable

2.4.1 Water Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.2 Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.3 Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.4 Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.5 Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

2.5 Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Skeletal

3 Uses

3.1 Architecture

3.1.1 Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

3.1.2 Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

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

3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

3.2 Industry

3.2.1 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

3.2.2 Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

3.3 Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

3.4 Other Uses

3.4.1 Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork

Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)

4 Types

4.1 Types

Borolanite and Litchfieldite

Peralkaline Nephelinite

4.2 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

Host Rock for Lead

4.3 Archaeological Significance

4.3.1 Monuments

Used

4.3.2 Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

4.3.3 Sculpture

Used

4.3.4 Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

4.3.5 Pictographs

Used

Not Used

4.3.6 Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

4.3.7 Figurines

Used

4.4 Fossils

Absent

5 Formation

5.1 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.

Nephelinite 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.

5.2 Composition

5.2.1 Mineral Content

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

Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase

5.2.2 Compound Content

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

Ca, CaO, Carbon, Cl, MgO

5.3 Transformation

5.3.1 Metamorphism

✔ ✘

5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Contact Metamorphism

5.3.3 Weathering

✔ ✘

5.3.4 Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

5.3.5 Erosion

✔ ✘

5.3.6 Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

6 Properties

6.1 Physical Properties

6.1.1 Hardness

5.5-66.5

1 7

6.1.2 Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

6.1.3 Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

Flat

6.1.4 Streak

White

6.1.5 Porosity

Less Porous

6.1.6 Luster

Greasy to Dull

Vitreous to Metallic

6.1.7 Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²35.00 N/mm²

0.15 450

6.1.8 Cleavage

Poor

Imperfect

6.1.9 Toughness

Not Available

2.7

6.1.10 Specific Gravity

2.62.4-2.9

0 8.4

6.1.11 Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

1.1.1 Density

2.6 g/cm³2.5-3 g/cm³

0 1400

4.4 Thermal Properties

4.4.1 Specific Heat Capacity

NA0.88 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

6.1.6 Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant

7 Reserves

7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents

7.1.1 Asia

Not Yet Found

Japan

7.1.3 Africa

South Africa

Rwanda, Tanzania

7.1.4 Europe

Finland, Norway, Portugal

Not Yet Found

7.1.5 Others

Not Yet Found

Hawaii Islands

7.2 Deposits in Western Continents

7.2.1 North America

Canada

Canada, USA

7.2.2 South America

Brazil

Colombia

7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent

7.3.1 Australia

Not Yet Found

All about Litchfieldite and Nephelinite Properties

Know all about Litchfieldite and Nephelinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Litchfieldite and Nephelinite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Litchfieldite is Granular whereas that of Nephelinite is Aphanitic. Litchfieldite appears Banded and Foilated and Nephelinite appears Skeletal. The luster of Litchfieldite is greasy to dull while that of Nephelinite is vitreous to metallic. Litchfieldite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Nephelinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Litchfieldite are creating artwork and that of Nephelinite are creating artwork, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo).