Syenite and Shoshonite

Syenite

Shoshonite

Definition

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

Shoshonite is a basaltic rock, properly a potassic trachyandesite, composed of olivine, augite and plagioclase phenocrysts in a groundmass with calcic plagioclase and sanidine and some dark-colored volcanic glass

History

Origin

Unknown

Wyoming,USA

Discoverer

Unknown

Iddings

Etymology

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

From the place of origin called Shoshone riverin Wyoming

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Volcanic

Other Categories

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

Texture

Earthy

Porphyritic

Color

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

Brown- Black, Dark Brown

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone

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, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Shonkinite

Not Available

Features

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

Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

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.

Shoshonite 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

Pyroxene

Compound Content

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

Aluminium Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

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

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact 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, Glacier Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Not Available

Uneven

Streak

White

White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Dull

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Perfect

Poor

Toughness

Not Available

1.6

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.7

2.98

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

2.9-3 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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

India, Russia

Africa

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

South Africa

Europe

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Iceland

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

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Syenite and Shoshonite Properties

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