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What is Diorite?



Definition

Definition
Diorite is a grey to dark-grey intermediate intrusive igneous rock composed principally of plagioclase feldspar,biotite, hornblende, and pyroxene

History

Origin
-

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
From early 19th century coined in French, formed irregularly from Greek diorizein distinguish

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Plutonic

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

Texture

Texture
Phaneritic

Color
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
No

Scratch Resistant
No

Stain Resistant
No

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
No

Appearance
Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

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

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Curling

Types

Types
Plagioclase Diorite and Quartz Diorite

Features
Typically speckled black and white.

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Diorite is a coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock which contains large interlocking and randomly oriented crystals and forms when molten lava does not reach the Earth’s surface and cools down in the Earth’s crust.

Composition

Mineral Content
Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon

Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6-7

Grain Size
Medium to Coarse Grained

Fracture
-

Streak
Bluish Black

Porosity
Very Less Porous

Luster
Shiny

Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm2 8

Cleavage
-

Toughness
2.1

Specific Gravity
2.8-3

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.8-3 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K 15

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
-

Africa
Egypt

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

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
USA

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

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Diorite

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

Know about Composition of Diorite

What is Diorite composed of? Get to know about composition of Diorite here. Diorite definition gives information about the Formation of Diorite and its composition.The composition of Diorite can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Diorite rock includes Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon and The compound content of Diorite rock includes Silicon Dioxide. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Diorite rock in next section.

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