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Syenite
Syenite

Variolite
Variolite



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Syenite
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Syenite vs Variolite

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Definition

Definition

Syenite is a coarse-grained igneous rock which is composed mainly of alkali feldspar and various ferromagnesian minerals
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance

History

Origin

-
France

Discoverer

Unknown
Unknown

Etymology

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

Class

Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic
Volcanic

Other Categories

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

Texture

Texture

Earthy
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular

Color

Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey

Maintenance

Less
Less

Durability

Durable
Durable

Water Resistant

Scratch Resistant

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Banded and Foilated
Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

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

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, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

-
-

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Types

Shonkinite
Metamorphic rock

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

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-

Famous Monuments

-
-

Sculpture

-
-

Famous Sculptures

-
-

Pictographs

-
-

Petroglyphs

-
-

Figurines

-
-

Fossils

Absent
Absent

Formation

Formation

Syenites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks that exhibit pale colored spots on weathered surfaces that give them a pockmarked appearance.

Composition

Mineral Content

Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
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, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism

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

Weathering

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Types of Erosion

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

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-66
1 7
👆🏻

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
-

Fracture

-
Conchoidal

Streak

White
White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous
Less Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull
-

Compressive Strength

150.00 N/mm237.50 N/mm2
0.15 450
👆🏻

Cleavage

Perfect
-

Toughness

-
2.3

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.72.8-3
0 8.4
👆🏻

Transparency

Opaque
Opaque

Density

2.6-2.8 g/cm32.9-3.1 g/cm3
0 1400
👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K
0.14 3.2
👆🏻

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
India, Russia

Africa

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

Europe

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland
Iceland

Others

-
-

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
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Syenite vs Variolite Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Syenite and Variolite Reserves. Syenite is a coarse-grained igneous rock which is composed mainly of alkali feldspar and various ferromagnesian minerals. Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Syenite vs Variolite information and Syenite vs Variolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Syenite vs Variolite 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. Syenite vs Variolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Syenite and Properties of Variolite. Learn more about Syenite vs Variolite in the next section. The interior uses of Syenite include Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Variolite include Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Syenite and Variolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Syenite 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 Variolite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.

More about Syenite and Variolite

Here you can know more about Syenite and Variolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Syenite and Variolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Syenite includes Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz and mineral content of Variolite includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Syenite vs Variolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Syenite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas, Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Syenite is Banded and Foilated and that of Variolite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Syenite vs Variolite. The hardness of Syenite is 5.5-6 and that of Variolite is 6. The types of Syenite are Shonkinite whereas types of Variolite are Metamorphic rock. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Syenite is white while that of Variolite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Syenite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Variolite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Syenite is heat resistant, impact resistant, wear resistant whereas Variolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.