Definition
Rapakivi Granite is a hornblende-biotite Granite containing large rounded crystals of orthoclase which are mantled with oligoclase
  
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth
  
History
  
  
Origin
Finland, Europe
  
Ethiopia
  
Discoverer
Jakob Sederholm
  
Obsius
  
Etymology
From Finnish Rapakivi which stands for crumbly rock
  
From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Plutonic
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Granular, Phaneritic
  
Glassy
  
Color
Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White
  
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow
  
Maintenance
More
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Veined or Pebbled
  
Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads
  
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings, Paving Stone, Resorts
  
Garden Decoration
  
Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone
  
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Surgery
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts, Jewellery
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones
  
Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums
  
Types
Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite and Hybrid Granite
  
Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian
  
Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock
  
Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression
  
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
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
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
  
When the lava is released from volcano, it undergoes a very rapid cooling which freezes the mechanisms of crystallization. The result is a volcanic glass with a uniform smooth texture.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
  
Not Available
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
6-7
  
5-5.5
  
Grain Size
Large and Coarse Grained
  
Not Applicable
  
Fracture
Not Available
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Very Less Porous
  
Luster
Dull to Grainy with Sporadic parts Pearly and Vitreous
  
Vitreous
  
Compressive Strength
175.00 N/mm2
  
13
Cleavage
Not Available
  
Non-Existent
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7
  
2.6-2.7
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Translucent
  
Density
2.6-2.8 g/cm3
  
2.6 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.79 kJ/Kg K
  
16
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
  
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
  
Africa
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
  
Kenya
  
Europe
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Venezuela
  
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
South America
Not Yet Found
  
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Not Yet Found
  
New Zealand
  
Rapakivi Granite vs Obsidian Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Rapakivi Granite vs Obsidian characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Rapakivi Granite and Properties of Obsidian. Learn more about Rapakivi Granite vs Obsidian in the next section. The interior uses of Rapakivi Granite include Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior decoration, Kitchens and Stair treads whereas the interior uses of Obsidian include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Rapakivi Granite and Obsidian, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Rapakivi Granite in construction industry include As dimension stone and that of Obsidian include Arrowheads, Cutting tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear points.
More about Rapakivi Granite and Obsidian
Here you can know more about Rapakivi Granite and Obsidian. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Rapakivi Granite and Obsidian consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Rapakivi Granite includes Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz and mineral content of Obsidian is not available. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Rapakivi Granite vs Obsidian, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Rapakivi Granite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors whereas, Obsidian is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors. Appearance of Rapakivi Granite is Veined or Pebbled and that of Obsidian is Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Rapakivi Granite vs Obsidian. The hardness of Rapakivi Granite is 6-7 and that of Obsidian is 5-5.5. The types of Rapakivi Granite are Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite and Hybrid Granite whereas types of Obsidian are Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Rapakivi Granite and Obsidian is white. The specific heat capacity of Rapakivi Granite is 0.79 kJ/Kg K and that of Obsidian is 0.92 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Rapakivi Granite is heat resistant, wear resistant whereas Obsidian is heat resistant, impact resistant.