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What is Felsite?



Definition

Definition
Felsite is a very fine grained volcanic rock that may or may not contain larger crystals and light colored rock that typically requires petrographic examination or chemical analysis for more precise definition

History

Origin
-

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
From English feldspar and -ite

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group
Volcanic

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Arborescent Patterned, Vitreous

Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
No

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
No

Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
Paving Stone, Garden Decoration

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points

Medical Industry
Surgery

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Mirror, Jewelry

Types

Types
Igneous rock

Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Clasts are smooth to touch, Splintery, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Felsite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.

Composition

Mineral Content
Feldspar, Iron Oxides

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
5-5.5

Grain Size
Fine Grained

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
White

Porosity
Very Less Porous

Luster
Vitreous

Compressive Strength
0.15 N/mm2 49

Cleavage
-

Toughness
-

Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7

Transparency
Translucent

Density
2.6 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K 10

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia

Africa
Kenya

Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, Mexico, USA

South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
New Zealand

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Felsite

What is Felsite? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Felsite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Felsite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Felsite is 0.15 N/mm2. Streak of Felsite is white while its cleavage is . Luster of Felsite is vitreous and its fracture is conchoidal. Felsite is translucent in nature. Know all about Felsite, What is Felsite, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Felsite

What is Felsite composed of? Get to know about composition of Felsite here. Felsite definition gives information about the Formation of Felsite and its composition.The composition of Felsite can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Felsite rock includes Feldspar, Iron Oxides and The compound content of Felsite rock includes Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Felsite rock in next section.

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