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Tephrite and Taconite


Taconite and Tephrite


Definition

Definition
Tephrite is an aphanitic to porphyritic textured, volcanic igneous rock   
Taconite is a low-grade iron ore which belongs to sedimentary rock and containing about 27% iron and 51% silica   

History
  
  

Origin
Germany   
Western Australia, Minnesota   

Discoverer
Van Tooren   
Newton Horace Winchell   

Etymology
From Greek tephra, ashes from Indo-European base, to burn   
From the name of Taconic Mountains in New England   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Not Applicable   

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

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic   
Banded, Trellis   

Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White   
Red, Reddish Brown   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Vesicular   
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Landscaping   
As Dimension Stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner   
As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Not Available   

Features
Host Rock for Lead   
Is one of the oldest rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

Sculpture
Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Present   

Formation

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.   
Taconite is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock as it flows. When the river reaches a lake or sea, its load of transported rocks settles or deposits at the bottom of sea or lake.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Alkali feldspar, Nepheline, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   
Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz   

Compound Content
CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide   
Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5   
5.5-6   

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   
Large and Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Uneven   
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal   

Streak
Bluish Black   
White   

Porosity
Very Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Earthy   

Compressive Strength
90.00 N/mm2   
22
Not Available   

Cleavage
Crenulation and Pervasive   
Imperfect   

Toughness
2.4   
1.5   

Specific Gravity
2.86   
5-5.3   

Transparency
Opaque   
Translucent to Opaque   

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   
Not Available   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
3.20 kJ/Kg K   
1

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Not Yet Found   
China, India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam   

Africa
Namibia, Uganda   
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania   

Europe
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain   
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, Mexico, USA   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Bolivia, Brazil   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia   
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Tephrite and Taconite Properties

Know all about Tephrite and Taconite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Tephrite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Taconite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Tephrite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Taconite is Banded, Trellis. Tephrite appears Vesicular and Taconite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Tephrite is subvitreous to dull while that of Taconite is earthy. Tephrite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas Taconite is available in red, reddish brown colors. The commercial uses of Tephrite are production of lime, soil conditioner and that of Taconite are as a touchstone, cemetery markers, creating artwork.

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