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What is Shoshonite?



Definition

Definition
Shoshonite is a basaltic rock, properly a potassic trachyandesite, composed of olivine, augite and plagioclase phenocrysts in a groundmass with calcic plagioclase and sanidine and some dark-colored volcanic glass

History

Origin
Wyoming,USA

Discoverer
Iddings

Etymology
From the place of origin called Shoshone riverin Wyoming

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group
Volcanic

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

Texture

Texture
Porphyritic

Color
Brown- Black, Dark Brown

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Types
Intermediate volcanic rock

Features
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Shoshonite 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
Pyroxene

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture
Uneven

Streak
White to Grey

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Dull

Compressive Strength
175.00 N/mm2 20

Cleavage
-

Toughness
1.6

Specific Gravity
2.98

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.9-3 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.79 kJ/Kg K 17

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
India, Russia

Africa
South Africa

Europe
Iceland

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
-

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Shoshonite

What is Shoshonite? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Shoshonite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Shoshonite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Shoshonite is 175.00 N/mm2. Streak of Shoshonite is white to grey while its cleavage is . Luster of Shoshonite is dull and its fracture is uneven. Shoshonite is opaque in nature. Know all about Shoshonite, What is Shoshonite, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Shoshonite

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

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