Definition
Rhomb-porphyry is a porphyritic igneous rock with abundant wedge or lens shaped anorthoclase or feldspar phenocrysts
  
Shoshonite is a basaltic rock, properly a potassic trachyandesite, composed of olivine, augite and plagioclase phenocrysts in a groundmass with calcic plagioclase and sanidine and some dark-colored volcanic glass
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
Wyoming,USA
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Iddings
  
Etymology
From Latin term that means purple
  
From the place of origin called Shoshone riverin Wyoming
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Volcanic
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
  
Porphyritic
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Brown- Black, Dark Brown
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Rough
  
Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Metallurgical Flux, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Rhomb-porphyry 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.
  
Shoshonite 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.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Alkali feldspar, Biotite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Pyroxene
  
Compound Content
CaO, Cl, MgO
  
Aluminium Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Impact 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, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5-5.5
  
6
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Uneven
  
Streak
White
  
White to Grey
  
Porosity
Very Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Dull
  
Compressive Strength
310.00 N/mm
2
  
2
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Poor
  
Toughness
2.7
  
1.6
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
2.98
  
Transparency
Translucent
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
2.9-3 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Not Yet Found
  
India, Russia
  
Africa
Not Yet Found
  
South Africa
  
Europe
Bulgaria
  
Iceland
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Not Yet Found
  
Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
All about Rhomb Porphyry and Shoshonite Properties
Know all about Rhomb Porphyry and Shoshonite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Rhomb Porphyry and Shoshonite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Rhomb Porphyry is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Shoshonite is Porphyritic. Rhomb Porphyry appears Rough and Shoshonite appears Dull. The luster of Rhomb Porphyry is subvitreous to dull while that of Shoshonite is dull. Rhomb Porphyry is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Shoshonite is available in brown- black, dark brown colors. The commercial uses of Rhomb Porphyry are an oil and gas reservoir, as a feed additive for livestock, metallurgical flux, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Shoshonite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.