Definition
Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.
  
Felsite is a very fine grained volcanic rock that may or may not contain larger crystals and light colored rock that typically requires petrographic examination or chemical analysis for more precise definition
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From pseudo- + tachylite, a glassy rock generated by frictional heat within faults.
  
From English feldspar and -ite
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Quench
  
Arborescent Patterned, Vitreous
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Dull and Soft
  
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
  
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Surgery
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone
  
Mirror, Jewelry
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Clasts are smooth to touch, Splintery, Very fine grained rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Pseudotachylite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.
  
Felsite 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
Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides
  
Feldspar, Iron Oxides
  
Compound Content
Carbon Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
  
Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
7
  
5-5.5
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
Light to dark brown
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Very Less Porous
  
Luster
Vitreous
  
Vitreous
  
Compressive Strength
60.00 N/mm2
  
25
Cleavage
Irregular
  
Non-Existent
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.46-2.86
  
2.6-2.7
  
Transparency
Transparent to Translucent
  
Translucent
  
Density
2.7-2.9 g/cm3
  
2.6 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
South Korea
  
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
  
Africa
Western Africa
  
Kenya
  
Europe
Great Britain, Switzerland
  
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Not Yet Found
  
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
South America
Not Yet Found
  
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
New Zealand
  
All about Pseudotachylite and Felsite Properties
Know all about Pseudotachylite and Felsite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Pseudotachylite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Felsite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Pseudotachylite is Quench whereas that of Felsite is Arborescent Patterned, Vitreous. Pseudotachylite appears Dull and Soft and Felsite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Pseudotachylite and Felsite is vitreous. Pseudotachylite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Felsite is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Pseudotachylite are creating artwork, gemstone and that of Felsite are mirror, jewelry.