Definition
Pumice is a volcanic rock that consists of highly vesicular rough textured volcanic glass, which may or may not contain crystals
  
Foidolite is a rare type of coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock with a feldspathoid mineral content greater than 60%
  
History
  
  
Origin
Spain
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Old French pomis, from a Latin dialect variant of pumex
  
From the mineral feldspathoid which is the main content of rock
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Volcanic
  
Plutonic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Vesicular
  
Earthy
  
Color
Beige, Colourless, Grey, Light Green, Light Grey, Pink, White, Yellow- grey
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Vesicular
  
Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing, Powder
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, In landscaping and horticulture, Making natural cement, Production of lightweight concrete blocks
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
As an abrasive in skin exfoliating products, In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Medicines and Cosmetics
  
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
As a traction material on snow-covered roads, As an abrasive in pencil erasers, Fine abrasive used for polishing, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Used in aquariums
  
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Scoria
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Host Rock for Lead
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Pumice rock forms when the magma cools so quickly that atoms in the melt are not able to arrange themselves into a crystalline structure.
  
Foidolites 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
Aluminum Oxides, Calcite, Carbonate, Iron Oxides, Silica
  
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Compound Content
Al, Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Not Applicable
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
6
  
1.5
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Planar
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey
  
White
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Very Less Porous
  
Luster
Earthy
  
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Compressive Strength
51.20 N/mm
2
  
26
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
3
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
2.86
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Translucent
  
Density
0.25-0.3 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.87 kJ/Kg K
  
14
Not Available
  
Resistance
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
  
Russia
  
Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania
  
South Africa, Western Africa
  
Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
  
Not Yet Found
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia
  
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
All about Pumice and Foidolite Properties
Know all about Pumice and Foidolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Pumice and Foidolite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Pumice is Vesicular whereas that of Foidolite is Earthy. Pumice appears Vesicular and Foidolite appears Dull. The luster of Pumice is earthy while that of Foidolite is subvitreous to dull. Pumice is available in beige, colourless, grey, light green, light grey, pink, white, yellow- grey colors whereas Foidolite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Pumice are as a traction material on snow-covered roads, as an abrasive in pencil erasers, fine abrasive used for polishing, manufacture of soap, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibres, used in aquariums and that of Foidolite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork.