Shonkinite and Diabase

Shonkinite

Diabase

Definition

Shonkinite is a rare, dark-coloured and intrusive igneous rock which contains augite and orthoclase feldspar as its primary constituents

Diabase is a fine-grained igneous rock which is composed mostly of pyroxene and feldspar

History

Origin

USA

Germany

Discoverer

Unknown

Christian Leopold von Buch

Etymology

From the name of Shonkin Sag ranges in the Highwood Mountains of north-central Montana, US

From Greek di + base

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Volcanic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Earthy

Aphanitic, Granular

Color

Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White

Dark Grey to Black

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Vesicular

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

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

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones

Types

Not Available

Features

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable

Smooth to touch

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Shonkinites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.

Diabase forms when molten igneous rock is squeezed up into a vertical crack in other rocks, the crack is usually forced apart and the molten rock cools in the space to form a tabular igneous intrusion cutting across the surrounding rocks and is known as a dike.

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

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

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fine to Medium Grained

Fracture

Not Available

Conchoidal

Streak

White

Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Not Available

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

225.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Perfect

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

1.6

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.7

2.86-2.87

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

2.7-3.3 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

India

Africa

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

South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey

Others

Not Yet Found

Antarctica, Greenland

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Chile

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Shonkinite and Diabase Properties

Know all about Shonkinite and Diabase properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Shonkinite and Diabase belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Shonkinite is Earthy whereas that of Diabase is Aphanitic, Granular. Shonkinite appears Banded and Foilated and Diabase appears Vesicular. The luster of Shonkinite is subvitreous to dull while that of Diabase is not available. Shonkinite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Diabase is available in dark grey to black colors. The commercial uses of Shonkinite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Diabase are an oil and gas reservoir, cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones.