Rapakivi Granite and Rhyolite

Rhyolite

Definition

Rapakivi Granite is a hornblende-biotite Granite containing large rounded crystals of orthoclase which are mantled with oligoclase

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

History

Origin

Finland, Europe

North America

Discoverer

Jakob Sederholm

Ferdinand von Richthofen

Etymology

From Finnish Rapakivi which stands for crumbly rock

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

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Volcanic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Granular, Phaneritic

Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic

Color

Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White

Grey, White, Light Black

Maintenance

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Veined or Pebbled

Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

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

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

Other Architectural Uses

Not Yet Used

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone

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

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones

Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry

Types

Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite and Hybrid Granite

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

Features

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock

Acidic in nature, Available in lots of colors

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Granite is an igneous rock which is very hard, crystalline and is visibly homogeneous in texture and forms by melting of continental rocks

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

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

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

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

Grain Size

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Not Available

Sub-conchoidal

Streak

White

Colorless

Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Dull to Grainy with Sporadic parts Pearly and Vitreous

Earthy

Compressive Strength

175.00 N/mm²

140.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.7

2.65-2.67

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

2.4-2.6 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.79 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

China, India

Africa

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

Europe

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Venezuela

Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

South America

Not Yet Found

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

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Not Yet Found

New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Rapakivi Granite and Rhyolite Properties

Know all about Rapakivi Granite and Rhyolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Rapakivi Granite and Rhyolite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Rapakivi Granite is Granular, Phaneritic whereas that of Rhyolite is Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic. Rapakivi Granite appears Veined or Pebbled and Rhyolite appears Banded. The luster of Rapakivi Granite is dull to grainy with sporadic parts pearly and vitreous while that of Rhyolite is earthy. Rapakivi Granite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors whereas Rhyolite is available in grey, white, light black colors. The commercial uses of Rapakivi Granite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork, curling, laboratory bench tops, tombstones and that of Rhyolite are gemstone, laboratory bench tops, jewelry.