Tonalite and Anorthosite

Tonalite

Anorthosite

Definition

Tonalite is a coarse-grained plutonic rock consisting mainly of sodic plagioclase, quartz, and hornblende or other mafic minerals with phaneritic texture

Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase

History

Origin

Tonale, Italy

Unknown

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From Tonale Pass, northern Italy, + -ite1

From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Other Categories

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

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Phaneritic

Foliated, Glassy

Color

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Creating Artwork, Curling

Types

Dacite

Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite

Features

Is one of the oldest rock, Typically speckled black and white.

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

When alkali feldspar is extracted from granite, it changes to granitoid and later, it becomes tonalite with quartz as major mineral.

Anorthosite is a phaneritic, intrusive igneous rock which is characterized by a predominance of plagioclase feldspar which is almost 90–100%, and a minimal mafic component.

Composition

Mineral Content

Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Manganese Oxides, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon

Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene

Compound Content

NaCl, CaO, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Ca, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO, Sulfur Trioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

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

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

5-6

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Irregular

Streak

Bluish Black

White

Porosity

Very Less Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Pearly to Subvitreous

Cleavage

Not Available

Irregular

Toughness

2.1

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.86-3

2.62-2.82

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent

Density

2.73 g/cm³

2.7-4 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K

0.84 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

Africa

Egypt

Not Yet Found

Europe

Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Sweden, Turkey

Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Czech Republic

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada

South America

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Bolivia, Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia

Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Tonalite and Anorthosite Properties

Know all about Tonalite and Anorthosite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Tonalite and Anorthosite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Tonalite is Phaneritic whereas that of Anorthosite is Foliated, Glassy. Tonalite appears Banded and Foilated and Anorthosite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Tonalite is subvitreous to dull while that of Anorthosite is pearly to subvitreous. Tonalite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white colors whereas Anorthosite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, green, grey, light greenish grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Tonalite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Anorthosite are creating artwork, curling.