Home
Compare Rocks


Nephelinite Rock



Definition

Definition
Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene (variety augite).

History

Origin
Brazil

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
from French néphéline, from Greek nephelē

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Plutonic

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Skeletal

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
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

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

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

Types

Types
Peralkaline Nephelinite

Features
Host Rock for Lead

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
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.

Composition

Mineral Content
Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase

Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Carbon, Cl, MgO

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Contact Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6.5

Grain Size
Fine Grained

Fracture
Flat

Streak
White

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Vitreous to Metallic

Compressive Strength
35.00 N/mm2 43

Cleavage
-

Toughness
2.7

Specific Gravity
2.4-2.9

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.5-3 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K 13

Resistance
Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
Japan

Africa
Rwanda, Tanzania

Europe
-

Others
Hawaii Islands

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
-

Definition >>
<< All

Igneous Rocks

Information about Nephelinite

Rocks are naturally occurring solids which are composed of minerals & have been used by humans since ages. From Stone Age, rocks are used for various purposes. Also, the metals and minerals found in rock play an important role in our life. Get to know all the Nephelinite Uses. We have provided you with all information about Nephelinite rock here. Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene (variety augite).. Nephelinite is available in black, brown, green, grey, white colors. The streak of a rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Nephelinite is white. Get to know more about Nephelinite rock and characteristics of Nephelinite rock in the next sections.

Compare Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

» More Igneous Rocks

Compare Igneous Rocks

» More Compare Igneous Rocks