Pumice

Rhyolite

Pumice and Rhyolite

Pumice

Rhyolite

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1 Definition

1.1 Definition

Pumice is a volcanic rock that consists of highly vesicular rough textured volcanic glass, which may or may not contain crystals

Rhyolite is a fine-grained igneous rock which is rich in silica

1.2 History

1.2.1 Origin

Spain

North America

1.2.2 Discoverer

Unknown

Ferdinand von Richthofen

1.3 Etymology

From Old French pomis, from a Latin dialect variant of pumex

From German Rhyolit, from Greek rhuax lava stream + lithos stone

1.4 Class

Igneous Rocks

1.4.1 Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

1.5 Family

1.5.1 Group

Volcanic

1.6 Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

2 Texture

2.1 Texture

Vesicular

Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic

2.2 Color

Beige, Colourless, Grey, Light Green, Light Grey, Pink, White, Yellow- grey

Grey, White, Light Black

2.3 Maintenance

Less

2.4 Durability

Durable

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

Vesicular

Banded

3 Uses

3.1 Architecture

3.1.1 Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

3.1.2 Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Office Buildings

3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses

Curbing, Powder

Not Yet Used

3.2 Industry

3.2.1 Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, In landscaping and horticulture, Making natural cement, Production of lightweight concrete blocks

Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Knives

3.2.2 Medical Industry

As an abrasive in skin exfoliating products, In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Medicines and Cosmetics

Not Yet Used

3.3 Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

3.4 Other Uses

3.4.1 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

Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry

4 Types

4.1 Types

Scoria

Pumice Rocks, Obsidian Rocks, Perlite Rocks, Porphyritic Rocks.

4.2 Features

Host Rock for Lead

Acidic in nature, Available in lots of colors

4.3 Archaeological Significance

4.3.1 Monuments

Not Yet Used

4.3.2 Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

4.3.3 Sculpture

Not Yet Used

4.3.4 Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

4.3.5 Pictographs

Used

Not Used

4.3.6 Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

4.3.7 Figurines

Not Yet Used

4.4 Fossils

Absent

5 Formation

5.1 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.

Rhyolite is a felsic extrusive rock and due to its high silica content, rhyolite lava is very viscous and is volcanic equivalent of granite.

5.2 Composition

5.2.1 Mineral Content

Aluminum Oxides, Calcite, Carbonate, Iron Oxides, Silica

Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

5.2.2 Compound Content

Al, Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium

5.3 Transformation

5.3.1 Metamorphism

✔ ✘

5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic 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, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

6 Properties

6.1 Physical Properties

6.1.1 Hardness

66-7

1 7

6.1.2 Grain Size

Fine Grained

Large and Coarse Grained

6.1.3 Fracture

Planar

Sub-conchoidal

6.1.4 Streak

White, Greenish White or Grey

Colorless

6.1.5 Porosity

Highly Porous

6.1.6 Luster

Earthy

6.1.7 Compressive Strength

51.20 N/mm²140.00 N/mm²

0.15 450

6.1.8 Cleavage

Perfect

Not Available

6.1.9 Toughness

6.1.10 Specific Gravity

2.862.65-2.67

0 8.4

6.1.11 Transparency

Opaque

6.1.12 Density

0.25-0.3 g/cm³2.4-2.6 g/cm³

0 1400

6.2 Thermal Properties

6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity

0.87 kJ/Kg KNA

0.14 3.2

6.2.2 Resistance

Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

7 Reserves

7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents

7.1.1 Asia

Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia

China, India

7.1.2 Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

7.1.3 Europe

Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey

Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain

7.1.4 Others

Not Yet Found

7.2 Deposits in Western Continents

7.2.1 North America

Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, USA

Canada, USA

7.2.2 South America

Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent

7.3.1 Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

All about Pumice and Rhyolite Properties

Know all about Pumice and Rhyolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Pumice and Rhyolite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Pumice is Vesicular whereas that of Rhyolite is Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic. Pumice appears Vesicular and Rhyolite appears Banded. The luster of Pumice and Rhyolite is earthy. Pumice is available in beige, colourless, grey, light green, light grey, pink, white, yellow- grey colors whereas Rhyolite is available in grey, white, light black 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 Rhyolite are gemstone, laboratory bench tops, jewelry.