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What is Diabase?



Definition

Definition
Diabase is a fine-grained igneous rock which is composed mostly of pyroxene and feldspar

History

Origin
Germany

Discoverer
Christian Leopold von Buch

Etymology
From Greek di + base

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Volcanic

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

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic, Granular

Color
Dark Grey to Black

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Vesicular

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones

Types

Types
Dolerite

Features
Smooth to touch

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

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.

Composition

Mineral Content
Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

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

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
7

Grain Size
Fine to Medium Grained

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
Black

Porosity
Highly Porous

Luster
-

Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm2 8

Cleavage
-

Toughness
1.6

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.7-3.3 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K 15

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
India

Africa
South Africa, Tanzania

Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey

Others
Antarctica, Greenland

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Diabase

What is Diabase? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Diabase i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Diabase include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Diabase is 225.00 N/mm2. Streak of Diabase is black while its cleavage is . Luster of Diabase is and its fracture is conchoidal. Diabase is opaque in nature. Know all about Diabase, What is Diabase, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Diabase

What is Diabase composed of? Get to know about composition of Diabase here. Diabase definition gives information about the Formation of Diabase and its composition.The composition of Diabase can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Diabase rock includes Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine and The compound content of Diabase rock includes Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Diabase rock in next section.

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