Nepheline Syenite and Larvikite

Larvikite

Definition

Nepheline Syenite is a holocrystalline plutonic rock resembling syenite but containing nepheline and lacking quartz

Larvikite is an igneous rock and a variety of monzonite, notable for the presence of thumbnail-sized crystals of feldspar

History

Origin

Unknown

Larvik, Norway

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From origin of a Palaeozoic nepheline syenite from northern Shanxi Province, China

From the town of Larvik in Norway, where this type of igneous rock is found

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Granular

Phaneritic

Color

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

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

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, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Borolanite and Litchfieldite

Quartz Monzonite, Syenite and Diorite

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, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Nepheline Syenites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.

Larvikite 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

Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon

Compound Content

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

6-7

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

Not Available

Streak

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Greasy to Dull

Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

310.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Poor

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.6

2.8-3

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

2.6 g/cm³

2.9-2.91 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Turkmenistan, Vietnam

Not Yet Found

Africa

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

Not Yet Found

Europe

Andorra, Finland, France, Great Britain, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Others

Greenland

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

USA

South America

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Uruguay, Venezuela

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

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

New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Nepheline Syenite and Larvikite Properties

Know all about Nepheline Syenite and Larvikite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Nepheline Syenite and Larvikite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Nepheline Syenite is Granular whereas that of Larvikite is Phaneritic. Nepheline Syenite appears Banded and Foilated and Larvikite appears Shiny. The luster of Nepheline Syenite is greasy to dull while that of Larvikite is subvitreous to dull. Nepheline Syenite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Larvikite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Nepheline Syenite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Larvikite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork.