Tonalite and Metapelite

Tonalite

Metapelite

Definition

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

Metapelite is an old and currently not widely used field geological term for a clay rich fine-grained clastic sediment or sedimentary rock, i.e. mud or a mudstone

History

Origin

Tonale, Italy

Unknown

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From Tonale Pass, northern Italy, + -ite1

From Pelos or clay in Greek

Class

Igneous Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

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

Texture

Phaneritic

Foliated

Color

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Light Green, Light Greenish Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

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

Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Dacite

Not Available

Features

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

Easily splits into thin plates, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet 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.

Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Metapelite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Albite, Chlorite, Quartz

Compound Content

NaCl, CaO, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, MgO

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

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

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

5-6

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Fibrous

Streak

Bluish Black

Unknown

Porosity

Very Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Earthy

Cleavage

Not Available

Toughness

2.1

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.86-3

3.4-3.7

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.73 g/cm³

0-300 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K

0.72 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

Africa

Egypt

Western Africa

Europe

Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Sweden, Turkey

United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Not Available

South America

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia

Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Tonalite and Metapelite Properties

Know all about Tonalite and Metapelite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Tonalite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Metapelite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Tonalite is Phaneritic whereas that of Metapelite is Foliated. Tonalite appears Banded and Foilated and Metapelite appears Banded. The luster of Tonalite is subvitreous to dull while that of Metapelite is earthy. Tonalite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white colors whereas Metapelite is available in dark greenish - grey, green, light green, light greenish grey colors. The commercial uses of Tonalite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Metapelite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork.