Picrite and Arkose

Picrite

Arkose

Arkose and Picrite

Definition

Picrite is a variety of high-magnesium olivine basalt that is very rich in the mineral olivine

Arkose is a sedimentary rock, specifically a type of sandstone containing at least 25% feldspar

History

Origin

Hawaii Islands

France

Discoverer

Unknown

Alexandre Brongniart

Etymology

From Greek pikros bitter + -ite, 19th century

From Auvergne region of France used by a French geologist Alexandre Brongniart in 1826 who applied this term to some feldspathic sandstones

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Earthy, Rough

Clastic

Color

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

Reddish Brown

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Rough and Shiny

Rough and Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

Paving Stone, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Roadstone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

As a Feed Additive for Livestock, As armour rock for sea walls, Metallurgical Flux, Pottery, Source of Magnesia (MgO)

In aquifers, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Tombstones

Types

Oceanite

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

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Present

Formation

Picrite 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.

Arkose rock forms from the weathering of feldspar-rich igneous or metamorphic rock, most commonly granitic rocks, which are primarily composed of quartz and feldspar.

Composition

Mineral Content

Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyrrhotite

Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz

Compound Content

Al, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Mg, MgO

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6.8

6-7

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Coarse Grained

Fracture

Uneven

Conchoidal

Streak

White, Greenish White or Grey

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Dull

Compressive Strength

189.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Imperfect

Not Available

Toughness

2.1

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.75-2.92

Transparency

Opaque

Density

1.5-2.5 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.88 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Heat Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India, Russia

China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Uzbekistan

Africa

South Africa

Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

Iceland

Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Greenland

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Not Yet Found

New South Wales, New Zealand

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Picrite and Arkose Properties

Know all about Picrite and Arkose properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Picrite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Arkose belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Picrite is Earthy, Rough whereas that of Arkose is Clastic. Picrite appears Rough and Shiny and Arkose appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Picrite is subvitreous to dull while that of Arkose is dull. Picrite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white, yellow colors whereas Arkose is available in reddish brown colors. The commercial uses of Picrite are as a feed additive for livestock, as armour rock for sea walls, metallurgical flux, pottery, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Arkose are in aquifers, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo), tombstones.