Syenite and Diorite

Syenite

Diorite

Definition

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

Diorite is a grey to dark-grey intermediate intrusive igneous rock composed principally of plagioclase feldspar,biotite, hornblende, and pyroxene

History

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

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

From early 19th century coined in French, formed irregularly from Greek diorizein distinguish

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Other Categories

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

Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Earthy

Phaneritic

Color

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

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

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, Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Creating Artwork, Curling

Types

Shonkinite

Not Available

Features

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

Typically speckled black and white.

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.

Diorite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock which contains large interlocking and randomly oriented crystals and forms when molten lava does not reach the Earth’s surface and cools down in the Earth’s crust.

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon

Compound Content

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

Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

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

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

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

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

6-7

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Medium to Coarse Grained

Fracture

Not Available

Streak

White

Bluish Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Very Less Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Shiny

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

225.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Perfect

Not Available

Toughness

Not Available

2.1

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.7

2.8-3

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

2.8-3 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

Not Yet Found

Africa

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

Egypt

Europe

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

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

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

South America

Brazil, Chile

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Syenite and Diorite Properties

Know all about Syenite and Diorite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Syenite and Diorite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Syenite is Earthy whereas that of Diorite is Phaneritic. Syenite appears Banded and Foilated and Diorite appears Shiny. The luster of Syenite is subvitreous to dull while that of Diorite is shiny. Syenite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Diorite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Syenite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Diorite are creating artwork, curling.