Litchfieldite and Rhyodacite

Litchfieldite

Rhyodacite

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

Rhyodacite is an extrusive volcanic rock intermediate in composition between dacite and rhyolite

History

Origin

USA

Discoverer

Bayley

Unknown

Etymology

From its occurrence at Litchfield, Maine, USA

Rhyo lite + dacite : a rock intermediate between rhyolite and dacite that is the extrusive equivalent of granodiorite

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Volcanic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Granular

Earthy

Color

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

Black to Grey, Dark Greenish - Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Skeletal

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration

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, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

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

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns

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.

Rhyodacite 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, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon

Compound Content

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

Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, NA, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

Conchoidal

Streak

White

Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Greasy to Dull

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

200.50 N/mm²

Cleavage

Poor

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

2.1

Specific Gravity

2.6

2.34-2.40

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

2.6 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

1.12 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

South Africa

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

Finland, Norway, Portugal

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland

Others

Not Yet Found

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 Rhyodacite Properties

Know all about Litchfieldite and Rhyodacite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Litchfieldite and Rhyodacite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Litchfieldite is Granular whereas that of Rhyodacite is Earthy. Litchfieldite appears Banded and Foilated and Rhyodacite appears Skeletal. The luster of Litchfieldite and Rhyodacite is greasy to dull. Litchfieldite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Rhyodacite is available in black to grey, dark greenish - grey colors. The commercial uses of Litchfieldite are creating artwork and that of Rhyodacite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.