Pyrolite and Shonkinite

Pyrolite

Shonkinite

Definition

Pyrolite is an igneous rock consisting of about three parts of peridotite and one part of basalt

Shonkinite is a rare, dark-coloured and intrusive igneous rock which contains augite and orthoclase feldspar as its primary constituents

History

Origin

Pike County, U.S

USA

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From the chemical and mineralogical composition of the upper mantle of the Earth

From the name of Shonkin Sag ranges in the Highwood Mountains of north-central Montana, US

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Phaneritic

Earthy

Color

Dark Greenish - Grey

Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Rough and Shiny

Banded and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Source of Chromite, Platinum, Nickel and Garnet, Source of Diamonds

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Dunite, Wehrlite, Harzburgite, Lherzolite

Not Available

Features

Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

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

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Pyrolite 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.

Shonkinites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.

Composition

Mineral Content

Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

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

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact 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

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Irregular

Not Available

Streak

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Shiny

Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength

107.55 N/mm²

150.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Imperfect

Perfect

Toughness

2.1

Not Available

Specific Gravity

3-3.01

2.6-2.7

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

3.1-3.4 g/cm³

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

1.25 kJ/Kg K

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey

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

Africa

Morocco, South Africa

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

Europe

Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

USA

South America

Brazil

Brazil, Chile

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Pyrolite and Shonkinite Properties

Know all about Pyrolite and Shonkinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Pyrolite and Shonkinite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Pyrolite is Phaneritic whereas that of Shonkinite is Earthy. Pyrolite appears Rough and Shiny and Shonkinite appears Banded and Foilated. The luster of Pyrolite is shiny while that of Shonkinite is subvitreous to dull. Pyrolite is available in dark greenish - grey colors whereas Shonkinite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Pyrolite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, source of chromite, platinum, nickel and garnet, source of diamonds and that of Shonkinite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.