Rhyolite and Granite

Rhyolite

Granite

Definition

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

Granite is a very hard, granular, crystalline igneous rock which consists mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar and is often used as building stone

History

Origin

North America

Unknown

Discoverer

Ferdinand von Richthofen

Unknown

Etymology

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

From Italian granito, which means grained rock, from grano grain, and from Latin granum

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Plutonic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic

Granular, Phaneritic

Color

Grey, White, Light Black

Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White

Maintenance

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded

Veined or Pebbled

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

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

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Bridges, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Near Swimming Pools, Office Buildings, Resorts

Other Architectural Uses

Not Yet Used

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

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

As Dimension Stone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry

Curling, Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones, Used in aquariums

Types

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

Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite, Hybrid Granite, Granodiorite and Alkali Feldspar Granite

Features

Acidic in nature, Available in lots of colors

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

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Agia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, Blue Domed Church in Santorini, Greece, Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Charminar in Hyderabad, India, Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London, UK, Ephesus in Turkey, Georgia Guidestones in Georgia, US, Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Khajuraho Temples, India, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, India, Mysore Palace in Karnataka, India, Signers Monument in Augusta, Georgia, Statue of Liberty in New York, USA, Taj Mahal in Agra, India, Tower Bridge in London, Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, US, Washington Monument, US

Sculpture

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Avukana Buddha Statue in Sri Lanka, Lincoln Memorial in America, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, US, The Colossal Red Granite Statue of Amenhotep III in Karnak, Egypt

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Not Yet Used

Used

Fossils

Absent

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.

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

Composition

Mineral Content

Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

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

Compound Content

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

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, Regional Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

Grain Size

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Sub-conchoidal

Not Available

Streak

Colorless

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Earthy

Dull to Grainy with Sporadic parts Pearly and Vitreous

Compressive Strength

140.00 N/mm²

175.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.65-2.67

2.6-2.7

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.4-2.6 g/cm³

2.65-2.75 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

0.79 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India

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

Africa

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

Europe

Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain

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

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

South America

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

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Rhyolite and Granite Properties

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