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Theralite and Tephrite


Tephrite and Theralite


Definition

Definition
Theralite is a plutonic hylocrystalline igneous rock consisting of augite, olivine, calcic plagioclase and nepheline   
Tephrite is an aphanitic to porphyritic textured, volcanic igneous rock   

History
  
  

Origin
Unknown   
Germany   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Van Tooren   

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

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Volcanic   

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

Texture

Texture
Phaneritic   
Aphanitic to Porphyritic   

Color
Dark Grey to Black   
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
No   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Veined and Shiny   
Vesicular   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   
Landscaping   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones   
Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner   

Types

Types
Teschenite and Essexite   
Not Available   

Features
Smooth to touch   
Host Rock for Lead   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

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   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Theralite 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.   
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.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   
Alkali feldspar, Nepheline, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide   
CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

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

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

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

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
7   
6.5   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal   
Uneven   

Streak
White   
Bluish Black   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Very Less Porous   

Luster
Waxy and Dull   
Subvitreous to Dull   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
90.00 N/mm2   
22

Cleavage
Non-Existent   
Crenulation and Pervasive   

Toughness
1.5   
2.4   

Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8   
2.86   

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.7 g/cm3   
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.74 kJ/Kg K   
19
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
India, Russia   
Not Yet Found   

Africa
South Africa   
Namibia, Uganda   

Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey   
Germany, Hungary, Italy, Portugal, Spain   

Others
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
USA   

South America
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Queensland   
New Zealand, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Theralite and Tephrite Properties

Know all about Theralite and Tephrite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Theralite and Tephrite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Theralite is Phaneritic whereas that of Tephrite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic. Theralite appears Veined and Shiny and Tephrite appears Vesicular. The luster of Theralite is waxy and dull while that of Tephrite is subvitreous to dull. Theralite is available in dark grey to black colors whereas Tephrite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Theralite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones and that of Tephrite are production of lime, soil conditioner.

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