1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Tuff is a type of rock made of volcanic ash ejected from a vent during a volcanic eruption
A yellow sandstone which is flexible when cut into thin strips
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
1.2.2 Discoverer
1.3 Etymology
From a Latin word tophous then in Italian tufo and finally tuff
From the name of a mountain range where it was found; Itacolumi mountain in Brazil
1.4 Class
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
1.6 Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Clastic, Pyroclastic
Clastic, Granular, Rough
2.2 Color
Brown, Grey, Yellow
Beige, Black, Brown, Colourless, Cream, Dark Brown, Green, Grey, Light Green, Light to Dark Grey, Pink, Red, White, Yellow
2.3 Maintenance
2.4 Durability
2.4.1 Water Resistant
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
2.5 Appearance
Dull, Vesicular and Foilated
Rough
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate
Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, In aquifers, Petroleum reservoirs, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Tombstones
4 Types
4.1 Types
Welded tuff, Rhyolitic tuff, Basaltic tuff, Trachyte tuff, Andesitic tuff and Ignimbrite.
Not Available
4.2 Features
Always found as volcanic pipes over deep continental crust
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Easter Island in the Polynesian Triangle, Pacific Ocean
Data Not Available
4.3.3 Sculpture
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
4.3.5 Pictographs
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
4.3.7 Figurines
4.4 Fossils
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
Tuff is formed when large masses of ash and sand which are mixed with hot gases are ejected by a volcano and avalanche rapidly down its slopes.
Itacolumite is a sedimentary rock which forms from cemented sand-sized clasts and is a type of sandstone.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Calcite, Chlorite
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
5.2.2 Compound Content
Hydrogen Sulfide, Sulfur Dioxide
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Not Applicable
5.3.3 Weathering
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Fine Grained
Coarse or Fine
6.1.3 Fracture
6.1.4 Streak
6.1.5 Porosity
Highly Porous
Highly Porous
6.1.6 Luster
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
243.80 N/mm295.00 N/mm2
0.15
450
6.1.8 Cleavage
6.1.9 Toughness
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
6.1.12 Density
1-1.8 g/cm32.2-2.8 g/cm3
0
1400
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
0.20 kJ/Kg K0.92 kJ/Kg K
0.14
3.2
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, Yemen
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Uzbekistan
7.1.2 Africa
Cameroon, Cape Verde, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Uganda
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
7.1.3 Europe
France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
7.1.4 Others
Antarctica, Hawaii Islands
Greenland
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, USA
Canada, USA
7.2.2 South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Ecuador, Paraguay
Brazil
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand