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What is Gabbro?



Definition

Definition
Gabbro is an intrusive igneous rock which is chemically equivalent to plutonic Basalt

History

Origin
Germany

Discoverer
Christian Leopold von Buch

Etymology
From Latin glaber bare, smooth, bald

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Plutonic

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Phaneritic

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
Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

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

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

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones

Types

Types
Anorthosite Gabbro and Norite Gabbro

Features
Smooth to touch

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Gabbro, a mafic rock, forms due to cooling and crystallization of magma underneath Earth's surface.

Composition

Mineral Content
Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

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
Impact Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Coastal Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
7

Grain Size
Coarse 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
0.71 kJ/Kg K 23

Resistance
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
India, Russia

Africa
South Africa

Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey

Others
Greenland

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
New Zealand, Queensland

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Gabbro

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

Know about Composition of Gabbro

What is Gabbro composed of? Get to know about composition of Gabbro here. Gabbro definition gives information about the Formation of Gabbro and its composition.The composition of Gabbro can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Gabbro rock includes Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene and The compound content of Gabbro 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 Gabbro rock in next section.

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