Definition
Trachyte is a grey fine-grained volcanic rock which mainly consists of alkali feldspar
Travertine is a mineral consisting of layered calcium carbonate formed by deposition from spring waters
Discoverer
Alexandre Brongniart and René Just Haüy
Marcus Vitruvius Pollio
Etymology
From Greek trakhus rough’ or trakhutēs roughness
From Italian travertino a kind of building stone, from Tiburs, adjective from Tibur (Tivoli), in Italy
Class
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
Banded
Color
Black, Brown, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Grey, Light to Dark Grey, White
Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Red, White, Yellow
Durability
Durable
Durable
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Banded
Fibrous
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Paper Industry, Pottery
Types
Felsic volcanic rock
Thermal Travertine and Tufa
Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable
Stalactites and stalagmites are formed from this rock, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock
Archaeological Significance
Famous Monuments
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Colosseum in Rome, Italy, Sacré Coeur in Paris, France, Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy
Formation
Trachyte is an igneous volcanic rock with an aphanitic to porphyritic texture. It is the volcanic equivalent of syenite rock and forms as a result of magmatic differentiation.
Travertine is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock which then undergo sedimentation. They are then subjected to high temperature and pressure hence forming travertine rock.
Mineral Content
Augite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Quartz
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
Compound Content
Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
Ca, NaCl, CaO, Oxygen
Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
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Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Fine Grained
Porosity
Less Porous
Highly Porous
Luster
Metallic
Dull to Pearly
Specific Gravity
2.7
1.68
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.43-2.45 g/cm3
2.71 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
China, Russia
Africa
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
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Europe
Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland
Austria, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
USA
Canada, USA
South America
Brazil, Chile
Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
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All about Trachyte and Travertine Properties
Know all about Trachyte and Travertine properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Trachyte belongs to Igneous Rocks while Travertine belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Trachyte is Aphanitic to Porphyritic whereas that of Travertine is Banded. Trachyte appears Banded and Travertine appears Fibrous. The luster of Trachyte is metallic while that of Travertine is dull to pearly. Trachyte is available in black, brown, dark greenish - grey, green, grey, light to dark grey, white colors whereas Travertine is available in beige, black, blue, brown, grey, red, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Trachyte are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Travertine are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, paper industry, pottery.