Tephrite

Diatomite

Tephrite and Diatomite

Tephrite

Diatomite

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Definition

Tephrite is an aphanitic to porphyritic textured, volcanic igneous rock

Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth

History

Origin

Germany

Discoverer

Van Tooren

Unknown

Etymology

From Greek tephra, ashes from Indo-European base, to burn

From diatom + -ite1

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Other Categories

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

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Aphanitic to Porphyritic

Clastic or Non-Clastic

Color

Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White

Grey, White, Yellow

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Non-Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Vesicular

Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Landscaping

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Source of calcium

Medical Industry

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner

Alumina Refineries, Animal feed filler, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Creating Artwork, Drawing on blackboards, Fire resistant, Gymnasts, athletes and mountain climbers use for grip, In aquifers, Soil Conditioner, To ignite fire, Used as a filter medium, Used as an insecticide, Whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper

Types

Igneous rock

Diatomite

Features

Host Rock for Lead

Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Absent

Present

Formation

Tephrite 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.

Diatomite rock formed from the skeletal remains of single celled plants called diatoms. When diatoms die, their skeletal remains sink to the bottom of lakes and oceans etc. hence forming diatomite deposit.

Composition

Mineral Content

Alkali feldspar, Nepheline, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand

Compound Content

CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Ca, NaCl, CaO

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

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

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6.51

1 7

👆🏻

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Very fine-grained

Fracture

Uneven

Streak

Bluish Black

White

Porosity

Very Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Dull

Compressive Strength

90.00 N/mm²-

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Crenulation and Pervasive

Toughness

2.4

Specific Gravity

2.862.3-2.4

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.8-2.9 g/cm³2.49-2.51 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K0.90 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

Africa

Namibia, Uganda

Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Europe

Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain

England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom

Others

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada, USA

South America

Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula

All about Tephrite and Diatomite Properties

Know all about Tephrite and Diatomite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Tephrite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Diatomite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Tephrite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Diatomite is Clastic or Non-Clastic. Tephrite appears Vesicular and Diatomite appears Soft. The luster of Tephrite is subvitreous to dull while that of Diatomite is dull. Tephrite is available in black, brown, green, grey, white colors whereas Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Tephrite are production of lime, soil conditioner and that of Diatomite are alumina refineries, animal feed filler, as a feed additive for livestock, creating artwork, drawing on blackboards, fire resistant, gymnasts, athletes and mountain climbers use for grip, in aquifers, soil conditioner, to ignite fire, used as a filter medium, used as an insecticide, whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper.