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Definition

Definition
Tonalite is a coarse-grained plutonic rock consisting mainly of sodic plagioclase, quartz, and hornblende or other mafic minerals with phaneritic texture

History

Origin
Tonale, Italy

Discoverer
Warren Hamilton

Etymology
From Tonale Pass, northern Italy, + -ite1

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Plutonic

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

Texture

Texture
Phaneritic

Color
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Banded and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

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

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Types
Dacite

Features
Is one of the oldest rock, Typically speckled black and white.

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
When alkali feldspar is extracted from granite, it changes to granitoid and later, it becomes tonalite with quartz as major mineral.

Composition

Mineral Content
Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Manganese Oxides, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon

Compound Content
NaCl, CaO, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

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

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6-7

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
Bluish Black

Porosity
Very Less Porous

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength
185.00 N/mm2 17

Cleavage
-

Toughness
2.1

Specific Gravity
2.86-3

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.73 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K 10

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
-

Africa
Egypt

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

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
USA

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

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Tonalite

What is Tonalite? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Tonalite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Tonalite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Tonalite is 185.00 N/mm2. Streak of Tonalite is bluish black while its cleavage is . Luster of Tonalite is subvitreous to dull and its fracture is conchoidal. Tonalite is opaque in nature. Know all about Tonalite, What is Tonalite, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Tonalite

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

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