Rhyolite

Icelandite

Rhyolite and Icelandite

Rhyolite

Icelandite

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1 Definition

1.1 Definition

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

Icelandite belongs to volcanic igneous rocks which is rich in iron and belongs to andesite rock

1.2 History

1.2.1 Origin

North America

Iceland

1.2.2 Discoverer

Ferdinand von Richthofen

Ian S. E. Carmichael

1.3 Etymology

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

From its origin place near Cenozoic volcano near the parsonage Þingmúli in East Iceland

1.4 Class

Igneous Rocks

1.4.1 Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

1.5 Family

1.5.1 Group

Volcanic

1.6 Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

2 Texture

2.1 Texture

Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic

Aphanitic to Porphyritic

2.2 Color

Grey, White, Light Black

Bluish - Grey, Grey, Pink, Yellow

2.3 Maintenance

2.4 Durability

Durable

2.4.1 Water Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.2 Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.3 Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.4 Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.5 Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

2.5 Appearance

Banded

Dull and Soft

3 Uses

3.1 Architecture

3.1.1 Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

3.1.2 Exterior Uses

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

Office Buildings, Roof Tiles

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

Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

3.2.2 Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

3.3 Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Jewellery, Sculpture, Small Figurines

3.4 Other Uses

3.4.1 Commercial Uses

Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

4 Types

4.1 Types

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

Not Available

4.2 Features

Acidic in nature, Available in lots of colors

Generally rough to touch, High silica content, Is one of the oldest rock

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

Used

4.3.4 Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

4.3.5 Pictographs

Not Used

4.3.6 Petroglyphs

Not Used

4.3.7 Figurines

Not Yet Used

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.

Icelandite 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.

5.2 Composition

5.2.1 Mineral Content

Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon

5.2.2 Compound Content

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

Silicon Dioxide

5.3 Transformation

5.3.1 Metamorphism

✔ ✘

5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

5.3.3 Weathering

✔ ✘

5.3.4 Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering

5.3.5 Erosion

✔ ✘

5.3.6 Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

6 Properties

6.1 Physical Properties

6.1.1 Hardness

6-77

1 7

6.1.2 Grain Size

Large and Coarse Grained

Very fine-grained

6.1.3 Fracture

Sub-conchoidal

Uneven

6.1.4 Streak

Colorless

White

6.1.5 Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

6.1.6 Luster

Earthy

Vitreous

6.1.7 Compressive Strength

140.00 N/mm²NA

0.15 450

6.1.8 Cleavage

Not Available

6.1.9 Toughness

1.1

6.1.10 Specific Gravity

2.65-2.672.5-2.8

0 8.4

6.1.11 Transparency

Opaque

6.1.12 Density

2.4-2.6 g/cm³2.11-2.36 g/cm³

0 1400

6.2 Thermal Properties

6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity

NA2.39 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

6.2.2 Resistance

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant

7 Reserves

7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents

7.1.1 Asia

China, India

India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, South Korea

7.1.2 Africa

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

Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania

7.1.3 Europe

Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain

Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Turkey, United Kingdom

7.1.4 Others

Not Yet Found

7.2 Deposits in Western Continents

7.2.1 North America

Canada, USA

Mexico, USA

7.2.2 South America

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

7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent

7.3.1 Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia

All about Rhyolite and Icelandite Properties

Know all about Rhyolite and Icelandite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Rhyolite and Icelandite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Rhyolite is Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic whereas that of Icelandite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic. Rhyolite appears Banded and Icelandite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Rhyolite is earthy while that of Icelandite is vitreous. Rhyolite is available in grey, white, light black colors whereas Icelandite is available in bluish - grey, grey, pink, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Rhyolite are gemstone, laboratory bench tops, jewelry and that of Icelandite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.