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Definition

Definition
Tachylite is a vitreous form of basaltic volcanic glass. This glass is formed naturally by the rapid cooling of molten basalt

History

Origin
Iceland

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
From German Tachylite, from tachy- + Greek lutos soluble, melting

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group
Volcanic

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Vitreous

Color
Black, Dark Brown

Maintenance
More

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
No

Stain Resistant
No

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Glassy

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
Cutting Tool, Knives, Landscaping, Scrapers

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Types
Volcanic glass

Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Clasts are smooth to touch

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Tachylite 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
Feldspar, Olivine

Compound Content
Fe, Mg

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

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

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
5.5

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
Vermilion

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Resinous

Compressive Strength
206.00 N/mm2 11

Cleavage
-

Toughness
-

Specific Gravity
2.4

Transparency
Opaque

Density
3.058 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.56 kJ/Kg K 27

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
Cambodia, Russia, South Korea

Africa
East Africa

Europe
England, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Scotland, Sweden

Others
Hawaii Islands

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
USA

South America
-

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
Victoria

Definition >>
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Igneous Rocks

Information about Tachylite

Rocks are naturally occurring solids which are composed of minerals & have been used by humans since ages. From Stone Age, rocks are used for various purposes. Also, the metals and minerals found in rock play an important role in our life. Get to know all the Tachylite Uses. We have provided you with all information about Tachylite rock here. Tachylite is a vitreous form of basaltic volcanic glass. This glass is formed naturally by the rapid cooling of molten basalt. Tachylite is available in black, dark brown colors. The streak of a rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Tachylite is vermilion. Get to know more about Tachylite rock and characteristics of Tachylite rock in the next sections.

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