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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  
-  

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  
-  

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

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic  
Earthy  

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White  
Black, Brown, 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  
-  

Medical Industry
-  
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  
Eclogite  

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
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
-  

Sculpture
-  
-  

Famous Sculptures
-  
-  

Pictographs
-  
-  

Petroglyphs
-  
-  

Figurines
-  
-  

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  
-  

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  
-  

Streak
White  
White  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Vitreous to Metallic  
Subvitreous to Dull  

Compressive Strength
35.00 N/mm2  
99+
200.00 N/mm2  
13

Cleavage
-  
Perfect  

Toughness
2.7  
-  

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
0.75 kJ/Kg K  
20

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
-  
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
-  
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, green, grey, white colors whereas Eclogite is available in black, brown, 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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