Rhyolite

Gossan

Rhyolite and Gossan

Rhyolite

Gossan

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1 Definition

1.1 Definition

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

Gossan is intensely oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock, usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein.

1.2 History

1.2.1 Origin

North America

Indonesia

1.2.2 Discoverer

Ferdinand von Richthofen

Cornish Gossen

1.3 Etymology

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

From Cornish gossen from gos, blood from Old Cornish guit

1.4 Class

Igneous Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

1.4.1 Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

1.5 Family

1.5.1 Group

Volcanic

Not Applicable

1.6 Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

2 Texture

2.1 Texture

Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic

Rough, Sandy

2.2 Color

Grey, White, Light Black

Brown, Brown- Black, Gold, Green, Rust

2.3 Maintenance

Less

2.4 Durability

Durable

2.4.1 Water Resistant

✔ ✘

81% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

81% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.2 Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

86% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

65% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.3 Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

66% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

42% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.4 Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

49% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

19% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.5 Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

48% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

15% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

2.5 Appearance

Banded

Dull and Banded

3 Uses

3.1 Architecture

3.1.1 Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

3.1.2 Exterior Uses

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

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

3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses

Not Yet Used

Curbing

3.2 Industry

3.2.1 Construction Industry

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

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

3.2.2 Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

3.3 Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

3.4 Other Uses

3.4.1 Commercial Uses

Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Gemstone

4 Types

4.1 Types

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

Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan

4.2 Features

Acidic in nature, Available in lots of colors

Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates

4.3 Archaeological Significance

4.3.1 Monuments

Not Yet Used

4.3.2 Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

4.3.3 Sculpture

Not Yet Used

4.3.4 Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

4.3.5 Pictographs

Not Used

Used

4.3.6 Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

4.3.7 Figurines

Not Yet Used

4.4 Fossils

Absent

5 Formation

5.1 Formation

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

Earth movements can cause rocks to be either deeply buried or squeezed and hence the rocks are heated and put under great pressure.

5.2 Composition

5.2.1 Mineral Content

Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon

5.2.2 Compound Content

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

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Fe, FeO, Silicon Dioxide, Sulphur

5.3 Transformation

5.3.1 Metamorphism

✔ ✘

97% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

50% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Not Applicable

5.3.3 Weathering

✔ ✘

99% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

65% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

5.3.4 Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Not Applicable

5.3.5 Erosion

✔ ✘

92% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

77% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !

5.3.6 Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion

6 Properties

6.1 Physical Properties

6.1.1 Hardness

6-7

4-5

6.1.2 Grain Size

Large and Coarse Grained

Fine to Medium Grained

6.1.3 Fracture

Sub-conchoidal

Conchoidal

6.1.4 Streak

Colorless

White to Grey

6.1.5 Porosity

Highly Porous

6.1.6 Luster

Earthy

Metallic

6.1.7 Compressive Strength

What Is Flint

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▶

▼

140.00 N/mm²

Rank: 15 (Overall)▶

Not Available

Rank: N/A (Overall)▶

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What Is Obsidian

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▶

175 (What Is Grani..)

◀ ▶ ADD ⊕

6.1.8 Cleavage

Not Available

6.1.9 Toughness

Not Available

6.1.10 Specific Gravity

2.65-2.67

2.0

6.1.11 Transparency

Opaque

6.1.12 Density

2.4-2.6 g/cm³

Not Available

6.2 Thermal Properties

6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity

What Is Banded ..

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▶

▼

Not Available

Rank: N/A (Overall)▶

0.24 kJ/Kg K

Rank: 24 (Overall)▶

▲

What Is Granulite

⊕

▶

1.09 (What Is Trave..)

◀ ▶ ADD ⊕

6.2.2 Resistance

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

7 Reserves

7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents

7.1.1 Asia

China, India

China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea

7.1.2 Africa

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

Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa

7.1.3 Europe

Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain

Albania, France, Germany, Great Britain, United Kingdom

7.1.4 Others

Not Yet Found

7.2 Deposits in Western Continents

7.2.1 North America

Canada, USA

7.2.2 South America

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

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador

7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent

7.3.1 Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia

All about Rhyolite and Gossan Properties

Know all about Rhyolite and Gossan properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Rhyolite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Gossan belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Rhyolite is Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic whereas that of Gossan is Rough, Sandy. Rhyolite appears Banded and Gossan appears Dull and Banded. The luster of Rhyolite is earthy while that of Gossan is metallic. Rhyolite is available in grey, white, light black colors whereas Gossan is available in brown, brown- black, gold, green, rust colors. The commercial uses of Rhyolite are gemstone, laboratory bench tops, jewelry and that of Gossan are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, gemstone.