Definition
Nephelinite is a fine-grained or aphanitic igneous rock made up almost entirely of nepheline and clinopyroxene (variety augite).
Anthracite is a type of sedimentary rock which is hard and is variety of coal that has high luster
Origin
Brazil
Pennsylvania, U.S.
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
from French néphéline, from Greek nephelē
From Greek anthrakites, from anthrax, anthrak meaning coal
Class
Igneous Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Group
Plutonic
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Aphanitic
Amorphous, Glassy
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
Black, Brown, Dark Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Skeletal
Veined or Pebbled
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Not Yet Used
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
Not Yet Used
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Not Yet Used
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel Production
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Manufacture of Aspirins
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Not Yet Used
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Alumina Refineries, Electricity Generation, Liquid Fuel, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Paper Industry
Types
Peralkaline Nephelinite
Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite
Features
Host Rock for Lead
Helps in production of Heat and Electricity, Used as fossil fuel
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
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.
Anthracite forms from the accumulation of plant debris in a swamp environment. When plant debris dies and falls into the swamp, the standing water of the swamp protects it from decay.
Mineral Content
Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals
Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Carbon, Cl, MgO
Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur
Types of Metamorphism
Contact Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Not Applicable
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Not Applicable
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
Porosity
Less Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Vitreous to Metallic
Shiny
Compressive Strength
Not Available
Cleavage
Imperfect
Non-Existent
Toughness
2.7
Not Available
Specific Gravity
2.4-2.9
1.1-1.4
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.5-3 g/cm3
1.25-2.5 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant
Heat Resistant, Water Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
Japan
Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam
Africa
Rwanda, Tanzania
Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania
Europe
Not Yet Found
Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Others
Hawaii Islands
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada, Mexico, USA
South America
Colombia
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Not Yet Found
New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria
Nephelinite vs Anthracite Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Nephelinite vs Anthracite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Nephelinite and Properties of Anthracite. Learn more about Nephelinite vs Anthracite in the next section. The interior uses of Nephelinite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Anthracite include Not yet used. Due to some exceptional properties of Nephelinite and Anthracite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Nephelinite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate and that of Anthracite include Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel production.
More about Nephelinite and Anthracite
Here you can know more about Nephelinite and Anthracite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Nephelinite and Anthracite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Nephelinite includes Clinopyroxene, Nepheline, Plagioclase and mineral content of Anthracite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Nephelinite vs Anthracite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Nephelinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas, Anthracite is available in black, brown, dark brown, grey, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Nephelinite is Skeletal and that of Anthracite is Veined or Pebbled. Properties of rock is another aspect for Nephelinite vs Anthracite. The hardness of Nephelinite is 6.5 and that of Anthracite is 1-1.5. The types of Nephelinite are Peralkaline Nephelinite whereas types of Anthracite are Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Nephelinite is white while that of Anthracite is black. The specific heat capacity of Nephelinite is 0.88 kJ/Kg K and that of Anthracite is 1.32 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Nephelinite is heat resistant whereas Anthracite is heat resistant, water resistant.