1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Diabase is a fine-grained igneous rock which is composed mostly of pyroxene and feldspar
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
Germany
1.2.2 Discoverer
Christian Leopold von Buch
1.3 Etymology
From Greek di + base
1.4 Class
Igneous Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
Volcanic
1.6 Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Aphanitic, Granular
2.2 Color
Dark Grey to Black
2.3 Maintenance
Less
2.4 Durability
Durable
2.4.1 Water Resistant
✔
✘
81% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
✔
✘
86% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
✔
✘
66% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
✔
✘
49% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
✔
✘
48% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
2.5 Appearance
Vesicular
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones
4 Types
4.1 Types
Not Available
4.2 Features
Smooth to touch
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
Used
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
4.3.3 Sculpture
Used
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
4.3.5 Pictographs
Not Used
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
Not Used
4.3.7 Figurines
Used
4.4 Fossils
Absent
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
Diabase forms when molten igneous rock is squeezed up into a vertical crack in other rocks, the crack is usually forced apart and the molten rock cools in the space to form a tabular igneous intrusion cutting across the surrounding rocks and is known as a dike.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine
5.2.2 Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
✔
✘
97% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
✔
✘
99% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
✔
✘
92% - Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
▶
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Fine to Medium Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
Conchoidal
6.1.4 Streak
Black
6.1.5 Porosity
Highly Porous
6.1.6 Luster
Not Available
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm2
Rank: 7 (Overall) ▶
0.15
450
6.1.8 Cleavage
Not Available
6.1.9 Toughness
1.6
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
Opaque
6.1.12 Density
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available
Rank: N/A (Overall) ▶
0.14
3.2
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
India
7.1.2 Africa
South Africa, Tanzania
7.1.3 Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey
7.1.4 Others
Antarctica, Greenland
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
Canada, USA
7.2.2 South America
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia