1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Picrite is a variety of high-magnesium olivine basalt that is very rich in the mineral olivine
Basanite is a black basaltic rock which mainly contains plagioclase, augite, olivine and nepheline and is formerly used as a touchstone
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
1.2.2 Discoverer
1.3 Etymology
From Greek pikros bitter + -ite, 19th century
From Latin basanites + -ite
1.4 Class
Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
1.6 Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Earthy, Rough
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
2.2 Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White, Yellow
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
2.3 Maintenance
2.4 Durability
2.4.1 Water Resistant
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
2.5 Appearance
Rough and Shiny
Glassy or Pearly
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Homes
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 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.
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
As a Feed Additive for Livestock, As armour rock for sea walls, Metallurgical Flux, Pottery, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
As a touchstone, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Manufacture of tools, Metallurgical Flux, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms
4 Types
4.1 Types
Oceanite
Nepheline-Basanite, Analcite-Basanite and Leucite-Basanite
4.2 Features
Host Rock for Lead
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Used as a touchstone
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
4.3.3 Sculpture
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Not Applicable
4.3.5 Pictographs
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
4.3.7 Figurines
4.4 Fossils
5 Formation
5.1 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.
Basanite is a fine-grained, hard rock that forms when bits of lava shoot out of volcanoes.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyrrhotite
Augite, Feldspar, Ilmenite, Olivine, Plagioclase
5.2.2 Compound Content
Al, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Mg, MgO
Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Fine Grained
Fine Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
Uneven
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
6.1.4 Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey
White
6.1.5 Porosity
Less Porous
Highly Porous
6.1.6 Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
Waxy and Dull
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
6.1.8 Cleavage
6.1.9 Toughness
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
Opaque
Translucent to Opaque
6.1.12 Density
1.5-2.5 g/cm32.7 g/cm3
0
1400
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K0.74 kJ/Kg K
0.14
3.2
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
India, Russia
Not Yet Found
7.1.2 Africa
7.1.3 Europe
Iceland
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Spain
7.1.4 Others
Not Yet Found
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
7.2.2 South America
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
Not Yet Found
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia