Syenite and Amphibolite

Syenite

Amphibolite

Definition

Syenite is a coarse-grained igneous rock which is composed mainly of alkali feldspar and various ferromagnesian minerals

Amphibolite can be defined as a granular metamorphic rock which mainly consist of hornblende and plagioclase

History

Discoverer

Unknown

Alexandre Brongniart

Etymology

From French syénite, from Latin Syenites (lapis ) (stone) of Syene

From Amphibole + -ite

Class

Igneous Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

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

Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Earthy

Banded, Foliated, Massive

Color

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

Black, Brown, Green, Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Foliated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, 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, Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Roadstone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Shonkinite

Hornblendite

Features

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

Clasts are smooth to touch, Matrix variable, Surfaces are often shiny

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

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

Amphibolite is a coarse-grained metamorphic rock which forms by metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks like basalt and gabbro or from the metamorphism of clay-rich sedimentary rocks like marl or graywacke.

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Amphibole, Andalusite, Biotite, Calcite, Epidote, Garnet, Hornblade, Kyanite, Magnetite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Staurolite, Wollastonite

Compound Content

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, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

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

Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

6-7

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Medium to Coarse Grained

Fracture

Not Available

Irregular to Conchoidal

Streak

White

White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Vitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Perfect

Irregular

Toughness

Not Available

2.3

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.7

2.5

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

2.85-3.07 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

Russia, Turkey

Africa

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

Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

Europe

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Germany, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Poland

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Chile

Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Syenite and Amphibolite Properties

Know all about Syenite and Amphibolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Syenite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Amphibolite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Syenite is Earthy whereas that of Amphibolite is Banded, Foliated, Massive. Syenite appears Banded and Foilated and Amphibolite appears Foliated. The luster of Syenite is subvitreous to dull while that of Amphibolite is vitreous to dull. Syenite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Amphibolite is available in black, brown, green, grey colors. The commercial uses of Syenite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Amphibolite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork.