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Tonalite Rock



Definition

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

History

Origin
Tonale, Italy

Discoverer
Warren Hamilton

Etymology
From Tonale Pass, northern Italy, + -ite1

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Plutonic

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

Texture

Texture
Phaneritic

Color
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Banded and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

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

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

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

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Types
Dacite

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

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

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

Composition

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

Compound Content
NaCl, CaO, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

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

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6-7

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
Bluish Black

Porosity
Very Less Porous

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength
185.00 N/mm2 17

Cleavage
-

Toughness
2.1

Specific Gravity
2.86-3

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.73 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K 10

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
-

Africa
Egypt

Europe
Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Sweden, Turkey

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
USA

South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia

Definition >>
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Igneous Rocks

Information about Tonalite

Rocks are naturally occurring solids which are composed of minerals & have been used by humans since ages. From Stone Age, rocks are used for various purposes. Also, the metals and minerals found in rock play an important role in our life. Get to know all the Tonalite Uses. We have provided you with all information about Tonalite rock here. Tonalite is a coarse-grained plutonic rock consisting mainly of sodic plagioclase, quartz, and hornblende or other mafic minerals with phaneritic texture. Tonalite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white colors. The streak of a rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Tonalite is bluish black. Get to know more about Tonalite rock and characteristics of Tonalite rock in the next sections.

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