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
  
Picrite is a variety of high-magnesium olivine basalt that is very rich in the mineral olivine
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Hawaii Islands
  
Discoverer
Bayley
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From its occurrence at Litchfield, Maine, USA
  
From Greek pikros bitter + -ite, 19th century
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Plutonic
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Granular
  
Earthy, Rough
  
Color
Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Banded and Foilated
  
Rough and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
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 a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Roadstone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork
  
As a Feed Additive for Livestock, As armour rock for sea walls, Metallurgical Flux, Pottery, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Types
Borolanite and Litchfieldite
  
Oceanite
  
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
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
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.
  
Picrite 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
  
Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyrrhotite
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Al, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Mg, MgO
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5.5-6
  
6.8
  
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven
  
Uneven
  
Streak
White
  
White, Greenish White or Grey
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Greasy to Dull
  
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Compressive Strength
150.00 N/mm
2
  
14
189.00 N/mm
2
  
11
Cleavage
Poor
  
Imperfect
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
2.1
  
Specific Gravity
2.6
  
2.75-2.92
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.6 g/cm3
  
1.5-2.5 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available
  
0.88 kJ/Kg K
  
13
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Not Yet Found
  
India, Russia
  
Africa
South Africa
  
South Africa
  
Europe
Finland, Norway, Portugal
  
Iceland
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Brazil
  
Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
All about Litchfieldite and Picrite Properties
Know all about Litchfieldite and Picrite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Litchfieldite and Picrite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Litchfieldite is Granular whereas that of Picrite is Earthy, Rough. Litchfieldite appears Banded and Foilated and Picrite appears Rough and Shiny. The luster of Litchfieldite is greasy to dull while that of Picrite is subvitreous to dull. Litchfieldite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Picrite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Litchfieldite are creating artwork and that of Picrite are as a feed additive for livestock, as armour rock for sea walls, metallurgical flux, pottery, source of magnesia (mgo).