Definition
Shonkinite is a rare, dark-coloured and intrusive igneous rock which contains augite and orthoclase feldspar as its primary constituents
  
Foidolite is a rare type of coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock with a feldspathoid mineral content greater than 60%
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From the name of Shonkin Sag ranges in the Highwood Mountains of north-central Montana, US
  
From the mineral feldspathoid which is the main content of rock
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Plutonic
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy
  
Earthy
  
Color
Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Banded and Foilated
  
Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
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, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
  
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable
  
Host Rock for Lead
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Shonkinites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.
  
Foidolites 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
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
  
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Not Applicable
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5.5-6
  
1.5
  
Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Not Available
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Very Less Porous
  
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Compressive Strength
150.00 N/mm
2
  
14
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7
  
2.86
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Translucent
  
Density
2.6-2.8 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
  
Russia
  
Africa
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
  
South Africa, Western Africa
  
Europe
Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland
  
Not Yet Found
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Brazil, Chile
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
Shonkinite vs Foidolite Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Shonkinite vs Foidolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Shonkinite and Properties of Foidolite. Learn more about Shonkinite vs Foidolite in the next section. The interior uses of Shonkinite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Foidolite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Shonkinite and Foidolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Shonkinite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories and that of Foidolite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate.
More about Shonkinite and Foidolite
Here you can know more about Shonkinite and Foidolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Shonkinite and Foidolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Shonkinite includes Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz and mineral content of Foidolite includes Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Shonkinite vs Foidolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Shonkinite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas, Foidolite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors. Appearance of Shonkinite is Banded and Foilated and that of Foidolite is Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Shonkinite vs Foidolite. The hardness of Shonkinite is 5.5-6 and that of Foidolite is 1.5. The types of Shonkinite are Not Available whereas types of Foidolite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Shonkinite and Foidolite is white. The specific heat capacity of Shonkinite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Foidolite is Not Available. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Shonkinite is heat resistant, impact resistant, wear resistant whereas Foidolite is heat resistant, wear resistant.