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Nephelinite and Eclogite


Eclogite and Nephelinite


Definition

Definition
Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene (variety augite).   
Eclogite is an extreme metamorphic rock, formed by regional metamorphism of basalt rock under very high pressure and temperature   

History
  
  

Origin
Brazil   
Unknown   

Discoverer
Unknown   
René Just Haüy   

Etymology
from French néphéline, from Greek nephelē   
From French, Greek eklogē selection with reference to the selective content of the rock + -ite1   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard 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
Aphanitic   
Earthy   

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

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Skeletal   
Dull, Banded and Foilated   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   
Not Yet Used   

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

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)   
Creating Artwork, Gemstone   

Types

Types
Peralkaline Nephelinite   
Not Available   

Features
Host Rock for Lead   
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
Not Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Used   

Figurines
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
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.   
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
Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase   
Amphibole, Coesite, Corundum, Dolomite, Garnet, Kyanite, Lawsonite, Paragonite, Phengite, Pyroxene, Quartz, Rutile, Zoisite   

Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Carbon, Cl, MgO   
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Potassium, Sodium   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Contact Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5   
3.5-4   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Flat   
Not Available   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Vitreous to Metallic   
Subvitreous to Dull   

Compressive Strength
35.00 N/mm2   
29
Not Available   

Cleavage
Imperfect   
Perfect   

Toughness
2.7   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
2.4-2.9   
2.86-2.87   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.5-3 g/cm3   
3.2-3.6 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K   
13
Not Available   

Resistance
Heat Resistant   
Heat Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Japan   
India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey   

Africa
Rwanda, Tanzania   
Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa   

Europe
Not Yet Found   
France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Scotland   

Others
Hawaii Islands   
Greenland   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

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

South America
Colombia   
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Not Yet Found   
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Nephelinite and Eclogite Properties

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

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