Tephrite and Litchfieldite

Tephrite

Litchfieldite

Definition

Tephrite is an aphanitic to porphyritic textured, volcanic igneous rock

Litchfieldite is a rare igneous rock which is coarse-grained, foliated and a variety of nepheline syenite, sometimes also called as nepheline syenite gneiss or gneissic nepeheline syenite

History

Origin

Germany

USA

Discoverer

Van Tooren

Bayley

Etymology

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

From its occurrence at Litchfield, Maine, USA

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Plutonic

Other Categories

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

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Aphanitic to Porphyritic

Granular

Color

Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White

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

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Vesicular

Banded and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Landscaping

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Production of Glass and Ceramics

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner

Creating Artwork

Types

Not Available

Borolanite and Litchfieldite

Features

Host Rock for Lead

Application of acids on the surface causes cloudy frosting, Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Dissolves in hydrochloric acid, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

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.

Litchfieldite 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

Alkali feldspar, Nepheline, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Albite, Amphibole, Biotite, Cancrinite, Feldspar, Hornblende, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Sodalite

Compound Content

CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

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

Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6.5

5.5-6

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Coarse Grained

Fracture

Uneven

Conchoidal to Uneven

Streak

Bluish Black

White

Porosity

Very Less Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Greasy to Dull

Compressive Strength

90.00 N/mm²

150.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Crenulation and Pervasive

Poor

Toughness

2.4

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.86

2.6

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.8-2.9 g/cm³

2.6 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

Africa

Namibia, Uganda

South Africa

Europe

Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain

Finland, Norway, Portugal

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada

South America

Not Yet Found

Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Tephrite and Litchfieldite Properties

Know all about Tephrite and Litchfieldite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Tephrite and Litchfieldite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Tephrite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Litchfieldite is Granular. Tephrite appears Vesicular and Litchfieldite appears Banded and Foilated. The luster of Tephrite is subvitreous to dull while that of Litchfieldite is greasy to dull. Tephrite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas Litchfieldite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Tephrite are production of lime, soil conditioner and that of Litchfieldite are creating artwork.