Definition
Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.
  
Icelandite belongs to volcanic igneous rocks which is rich in iron and belongs to andesite rock
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Iceland
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Ian S. E. Carmichael
  
Etymology
From pseudo- + tachylite, a glassy rock generated by frictional heat within faults.
  
From its origin place near Cenozoic volcano near the parsonage Þingmúli in East Iceland
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Quench
  
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Bluish - Grey, Grey, Pink, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
More
  
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
  
Dull and Soft
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
Office Buildings, Roof Tiles
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
  
Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone
  
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Generally rough to touch, High silica content, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
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.
  
Icelandite 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
  
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon
  
Compound Content
Carbon Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Biological Weathering
  
Erosion
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
7
  
7
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Very fine-grained
  
Fracture
Uneven
  
Uneven
  
Streak
Light to dark brown
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Vitreous
  
Vitreous
  
Compressive Strength
60.00 N/mm
2
  
25
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Irregular
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
1.1
  
Specific Gravity
2.46-2.86
  
2.5-2.8
  
Transparency
Transparent to Translucent
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.7-2.9 g/cm3
  
2.11-2.36 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
2.39 kJ/Kg K
  
2
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
South Korea
  
India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, South Korea
  
Africa
Western Africa
  
Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
Great Britain, Switzerland
  
Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Turkey, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Not Yet Found
  
Mexico, USA
  
South America
Not Yet Found
  
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia
  
Pseudotachylite vs Icelandite 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. Pseudotachylite vs Icelandite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Pseudotachylite and Properties of Icelandite. Learn more about Pseudotachylite vs Icelandite in the next section. The interior uses of Pseudotachylite include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Icelandite include Decorative aggregates, Floor tiles, Homes, Interior decoration and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Pseudotachylite and Icelandite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Pseudotachylite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement and that of Icelandite include Cobblestones, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate.
More about Pseudotachylite and Icelandite
Here you can know more about Pseudotachylite and Icelandite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Pseudotachylite and Icelandite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Pseudotachylite includes Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides and mineral content of Icelandite includes Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Pseudotachylite vs Icelandite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Pseudotachylite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas, Icelandite is available in bluish - grey, grey, pink, yellow colors. Appearance of Pseudotachylite is Dull and Soft and that of Icelandite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Pseudotachylite vs Icelandite. Hardness of Pseudotachylite and Icelandite is 7. The types of Pseudotachylite are Not Available whereas types of Icelandite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Pseudotachylite is light to dark brown while that of Icelandite is white. The specific heat capacity of Pseudotachylite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Icelandite is 2.39 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Pseudotachylite is heat resistant whereas Icelandite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, scratch resistant, wear resistant.