Pumice and Trachyte

Pumice

Trachyte

Definition

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

Trachyte is a grey fine-grained volcanic rock which mainly consists of alkali feldspar

History

Origin

Spain

Unknown

Discoverer

Unknown

Alexandre Brongniart and René Just Haüy

Etymology

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

From Greek trakhus rough’ or trakhutēs roughness

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Vesicular

Aphanitic to Porphyritic

Color

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

Black, Brown, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Grey, Light to Dark Grey, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Vesicular

Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

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

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, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

Medical Industry

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

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

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, Creating Artwork

Types

Scoria

Not Available

Features

Host Rock for Lead

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable

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

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Not Yet Used

Used

Fossils

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.

Trachyte is an igneous volcanic rock with an aphanitic to porphyritic texture. It is the volcanic equivalent of syenite rock and forms as a result of magmatic differentiation.

Composition

Mineral Content

Aluminum Oxides, Calcite, Carbonate, Iron Oxides, Silica

Augite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Quartz

Compound Content

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

Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Fracture

Planar

Not Available

Streak

White, Greenish White or Grey

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Earthy

Metallic

Compressive Strength

51.20 N/mm²

150.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Perfect

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.86

2.7

Transparency

Opaque

Density

0.25-0.3 g/cm³

2.43-2.45 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.87 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania

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

Europe

Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

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

USA

South America

Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

Brazil, Chile

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Pumice and Trachyte Properties

Know all about Pumice and Trachyte properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Pumice and Trachyte belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Pumice is Vesicular whereas that of Trachyte is Aphanitic to Porphyritic. Pumice appears Vesicular and Trachyte appears Banded. The luster of Pumice is earthy while that of Trachyte is metallic. Pumice is available in beige, colourless, grey, light green, light grey, pink, white, yellow- grey colors whereas Trachyte is available in black, brown, dark greenish - grey, green, grey, light to dark grey, 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 Trachyte are cemetery markers, creating artwork.