Home
Compare Rocks


Nepheline Syenite and Eclogite


Eclogite and Nepheline Syenite


Definition

Definition
Nepheline Syenite is a holocrystalline plutonic rock resembling syenite but containing nepheline and lacking quartz   
Eclogite is an extreme metamorphic rock, formed by regional metamorphism of basalt rock under very high pressure and temperature   

History
  
  

Discoverer
Unknown   
René Just Haüy   

Etymology
From origin of a Palaeozoic nepheline syenite from northern Shanxi Province, China   
From French, Greek eklogē selection with reference to the selective content of the rock + -ite1   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Granular   
Earthy   

Color
Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White   
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
No   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Banded and Foilated   
Dull, Banded and Foilated   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone   
Paving Stone, Garden Decoration   

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   
Not Yet Used   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Medicines and Cosmetics   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork   
Creating Artwork, Gemstone   

Types

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, Generally rough to touch, 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   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Used   

Figurines
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Nepheline Syenites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.   
Eclogite forms from high-pressure metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks mainly, basalt or gabbro as it plunges into the mantle in a subduction zone.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Albite, Amphibole, Biotite, Cancrinite, Feldspar, Hornblende, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Sodalite   
Amphibole, Coesite, Corundum, Dolomite, Garnet, Kyanite, Lawsonite, Paragonite, Phengite, Pyroxene, Quartz, Rutile, Zoisite   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Potassium, Sodium   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering   
Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5.5-6   
3.5-4   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven   
Not Available   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Greasy to Dull   
Subvitreous to Dull   

Compressive Strength
150.00 N/mm2   
14
Not Available   

Cleavage
Poor   
Perfect   

Toughness
Not Available   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
2.6   
2.86-2.87   

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.6 g/cm3   
3.2-3.6 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam   
India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey   

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

Europe
Andorra, Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden   
France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Scotland   

Others
Greenland   
Greenland   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, USA   

South America
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela   
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Tasmania, Western Australia   
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Nepheline Syenite and Eclogite Properties

Know all about Nepheline Syenite and Eclogite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Nepheline Syenite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Eclogite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Nepheline Syenite is Granular whereas that of Eclogite is Earthy. Nepheline Syenite appears Banded and Foilated and Eclogite appears Dull, Banded and Foilated. The luster of Nepheline Syenite is greasy to dull while that of Eclogite is subvitreous to dull. Nepheline Syenite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Eclogite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Nepheline Syenite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Eclogite are creating artwork, gemstone.

Compare Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

» More Igneous Rocks

Compare Igneous Rocks

» More Compare Igneous Rocks