Definition
Shonkinite is a rare, dark-coloured and intrusive igneous rock which contains augite and orthoclase feldspar as its primary constituents
Rhomb-porphyry is a porphyritic igneous rock with abundant wedge or lens shaped anorthoclase or feldspar phenocrysts
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
From the name of Shonkin Sag ranges in the Highwood Mountains of north-central Montana, US
From Latin term that means purple
Class
Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Group
Not Applicable
Volcanic
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Earthy
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
Color
Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Banded and Foilated
Rough
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
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
Curbing
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Metallurgical Flux, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
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
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Formation
Shonkinites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.
Rhomb-porphyry 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.
Mineral Content
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
Alkali feldspar, Biotite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
CaO, Cl, MgO
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Impact Metamorphism
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion
Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Not Available
Conchoidal
Porosity
Less Porous
Very Less Porous
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
Subvitreous to Dull
Toughness
Not Available
2.7
Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7
2.86
Transparency
Opaque
Translucent
Density
2.6-2.8 g/cm3
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
Not Yet Found
Africa
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
Not Yet Found
Europe
Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland
Bulgaria
Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
South America
Brazil, Chile
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
Not Yet Found
Shonkinite vs Rhomb Porphyry 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 Rhomb Porphyry characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Shonkinite and Properties of Rhomb Porphyry. Learn more about Shonkinite vs Rhomb Porphyry in the next section. The interior uses of Shonkinite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Rhomb Porphyry include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Shonkinite and Rhomb Porphyry, 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 Rhomb Porphyry include As a flux in the production of steel and pig iron, As a sintering agent in steel industry to process iron ore, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories.
More about Shonkinite and Rhomb Porphyry
Here you can know more about Shonkinite and Rhomb Porphyry. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Shonkinite and Rhomb Porphyry 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 Rhomb Porphyry includes Alkali feldspar, Biotite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Shonkinite vs Rhomb Porphyry, 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, Rhomb Porphyry is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors. Appearance of Shonkinite is Banded and Foilated and that of Rhomb Porphyry is Rough. Properties of rock is another aspect for Shonkinite vs Rhomb Porphyry. The hardness of Shonkinite is 5.5-6 and that of Rhomb Porphyry is 5-5.5. The types of Shonkinite are Not Available whereas types of Rhomb Porphyry 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 Rhomb Porphyry is white. The specific heat capacity of Shonkinite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Rhomb Porphyry is 0.92 kJ/Kg K. 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 Rhomb Porphyry is heat resistant, pressure resistant.