Which stone is not a mineral?
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- Natural stone, its types and applications
Rock is a non-renewable natural resource used in many areas of human life. Houses and structures are built from stones, monuments, decorative slabs and coverings are made. They are used in jewelry, sculpture, architecture and painting. An entire industry was created in order to extract these amazing formations from the depths of the Earth. Based on physical and chemical properties and appearance, you can easily select a material to implement a specific task.
What is a stone
Natural stone is a piece of hard, non-metallic rock formed from one or more minerals through natural processes. The lithosphere, the hard shell of the Earth, consists of a collection of rock layers. There are about 5 thousand varieties of stones, each of which has a different structure, physical and chemical characteristics, and areas of application.
Stone consists of minerals – solid crystalline formations that can mix and transform their structure under the influence of metamorphism. Depending on their composition, stones can be strong or brittle, soft or hard. Some species are located on the surface of the earth, while others lie deep in its depths.
Types of classification of natural stones and minerals
Natural stones and minerals are classified according to their type of origin, composition, hardness, transparency, value and other properties. There are monomineral rocks, consisting of one mineral, and polymineral rocks, consisting of two or more minerals.
In order to distinguish valuable species from decorative ones, various classifications have been compiled. The most relevant of them is the classification of Bauer and Kluge, which includes precious and jewelry stones. The mineralogist Fersman made a significant contribution to its development, adding division into groups and classes.
- on optical characteristics – compiled by Georg Gurich in 1902;
- at market value – proposed by Evgeny Kievlenko in 1973;
- according to physical and chemical characteristics – created by the All-Union Scientific Research Institute of the Jewelry Industry in the 80s of the XNUMXth century.
Types of stone by origin
The most important criterion for classifying rocks is the type of origin. There are three main methods of stone origin:
- magmatic – primary, or endogenous;
- sedimentary – secondary, or exogenous;
- metamorphic – transformation of igneous or sedimentary rocks under the influence of external factors.
Igneous origin
Rocks of igneous, or endogenous origin, are formed as a result of the solidification of lava. The final structure of the stone depends on its composition, cooling rate and atmospheric factors. There are two types of magmatites:
- Intrusive. Magma gradually solidifies deep underground, putting enormous pressure on the rock. As a result, dense and massive crystallized blocks are formed, practically free of pores and voids.
- Effusive. Lava solidifies on the surface or in the upper layers of the earth through a volcanic eruption, and solidification occurs at low temperatures and occurs unevenly. Such rocks are more fragile and porous, and they often contain cracks.
During the eruption process, hot magma passes through other compounds and dissolves them into itself. According to their chemical composition, igneous rocks are usually divided into:
- acidic – silicon dioxide content more than 65%, with impurities of potassium and sodium;
- medium – 54-65% silicon dioxide, in the presence of aluminum and calcium;
- the main ones are silicon dioxide in the range of 45-54%;
- ultrabasic – less than 45% with a significant content of iron and magnesium.
Sedimentary origin of rocks
A stone of sedimentary or exogenous origin is formed during the destruction of rocks by external factors – atmospheric phenomena, temperature changes. They are found everywhere on the surface of the earth, spreading by currents of air and water. They often accumulate at the bottom of reservoirs, then settle and become compacted. There are the following subspecies:
- clastic – formed from parts of igneous origin;
- biochemical – formed due to the mixing of organic and inorganic compounds;
- chemogenic – consist of deposited sediments of concentrated solutions;
- biogenic – are the ossified remains and waste products of animal and plant origin.
Biogenic and biochemical sedimentary rocks form combustible substances such as coal, shale, peat, and oil.
Metamorphic rock formation
Metamorphic rocks are formed by transformation from other types of rocks. This occurs due to exposure to high temperature, pressure, and chemically active substances. The minerals that made up the primary rock are broken down by factors and then assembled into other compounds that form metamorphic rock. For example, clay, under the influence of metamorphism, turns into shale, and quartz sandstone into quartzite.
Depending on how intense the metamorphic transformation process was, it is not always possible to accurately determine which rock was the primary one. According to the conditions of formation of such rocks, the following types are distinguished:
- Regional. They are formed when lithospheric plates shift, when one mineral rock penetrates deep into another. Accompanied by strong pressure and high temperature.
- Hydrothermal. Occur with the direct participation of underground hot springs. Due to strong heating, the components that make up the rock enter into a chemical reaction and are converted into other compounds.
- Contact. They are formed near intrusive-type magmatites under the influence of high temperature on individual layers of the earth’s crust. A distinctive feature of this type of metamorphism is the formation of large mineral crystals of high strength.
Meteorites – space rocks
About two thousand tons of cosmic rock fall to Earth every year. In most cases it consists of silicates such as olifin, fayalite, forsterite, pyroxene, ferrosilite and enstatite. Meteorite formations are predominantly chondriacal in appearance, and their composition is similar to that of the Sun, with the exception of hydrogen and helium. It is likely that rock-type meteorites are formed from the protoplanetary cloud surrounding the Sun through the gravitational attraction of dust and condensation of substances. Used in jewelry and decorative purposes.
Rocks and minerals: features and differences
A rock is made up of the minerals that form it. Depending on the conditions of formation, a rock may contain one or more minerals, and its properties depend entirely on the components. Minerals, on the other hand, have a more uniform structure and consist of crystals with a symmetrical structure; their properties depend on the type of mineral.
Features of rocks:
- heterogeneous substances that form the earth’s crust;
- formed from minerals;
- divided by type of origin;
- used in architecture, design, and decorative purposes.
Features of minerals:
- homogeneous substances that make up rocks;
- differ in physical and chemical properties;
- used in industry, agriculture and high-tech industries.
Natural natural stones and their areas of application in construction, architecture, design
Natural stones are used in many areas of life. Granite, mica, slate and labradorite are used in construction and facing work, and flint, mirabilite and gypsum are used in medicine. The development of sculptural art and painting would have been impossible without marble, cinnabar and graphite, and agriculture would not have been able to function without limestone. Diamonds, sapphires and quartz are used in instrument making. These and many other types are used in architecture, design, decorative and jewelry purposes.
Marble
Marble is a metamorphic rock consisting primarily of calcite and admixtures of organic compounds. Easily processed. The stone comes in various colors, thanks to which it is successfully used in sculptural art, the furniture industry, and interior cladding. The disadvantages of marble include high cost and vulnerability to acidic environments.
Granite
Granite is an igneous hard stone of acidic type, replete with various colors and patterns. Composed of quartz, plagioclase, potassium spar and biotite and/or muscovite. Resistant to adverse environmental factors. It is used for cladding walls and slabs, making monuments, and building roads. The disadvantage of the material is its significant weight, which requires additional measures when working with it.
Limestone
Limestone is a sedimentary rock of biogenic, sometimes chemogenic origin, consisting of calcium carbonate. It is formed in large quantities at the bottom of oceans and seas. Limestone is used to make tiles and crushed stone, and limestone blocks are used in the construction of buildings. Eco-friendly, easy to process. The disadvantages are low moisture resistance and low load-bearing capacity.
Sandstone
Sandstone is a sedimentary rock of clastic type, consisting of sand grains bound by mineral matter. It is almost as hard as granite. Depending on the color, it is used for decorative purposes; it is also used for the production of facing tiles and pouring foundations. Quartz sandstone is used to make glass. Disadvantages include heavy weight and lack of hygiene.
Slate
Shales are rocks with a layered arrangement of minerals such as chlorite, actinolite, serpentine, quartz and muscovite. It is a product of volcanic activity. Physical properties depend on the composition. Various types of slates are used for the production of sand-lime bricks, crushed stone, cladding, and asphalt. Disadvantages of slates: dull color palette, high cost, heavy weight. Falls apart when subjected to physical impact.
Travertine
Travertine, or calcareous tuff, is a fine-grained rock formed from calcium carbonate. It is distinguished by its low weight and hardness, porous structure. Travertine tiles are used for both interior and exterior decoration. Also used for liming soil in agriculture. The disadvantages include the fact that it requires careful and regular care.
Basalt
Basalt is a basic type of igneous rock consisting of plagioclase, clinopyroxene, magnetite and volcanic glass. Can change its structure due to hydrothermal processes. It is characterized by high strength and ductility, which allows the use of basalt in the production of insulating materials, slabs and mineral sheets. It is the most common igneous rock. The disadvantages include the high price.
Labradorite
Labradorite is an igneous intrusive rock of the main type, consisting of plagioclase – labradorite with admixtures of pyroxenes and ore minerals. High-quality facing stone, used for decorative purposes and monumental architecture. It has high strength and weather resistance. The disadvantage is the high cost.
Flint
Flint is a sedimentary rock with high hardness. It is a type of quartz, consisting of crystalline and amorphous silica. Able to change color when mixed with other rocks. At the dawn of mankind, it was used for striking fire and making tools. Currently used for road construction and decorative purposes. There are no disadvantages.
Zlatolit
Goldstone is a flagstone containing mica and precious metals – gold and silver. Occurs in the form of plate formations. It has good moisture resistance and radiation protection. Has a long service life. Used for decorative purposes, in interior decoration. The design is compatible with many other materials. There are no shortcomings as such.
Geology is a set of sciences that study the history of the formation of our planet, its interior and the shell available for research. Geology places particular importance on the detailed study of minerals and rocks.
In this article we will touch on the basics of geology, popular terminology, and classification of rocks used in the field of natural finishing stone.
So, let’s start with the basics: minerals and rocks. These are fundamentally different terms that should not be confused.
Minerals
A natural body with a specific chemical composition and crystalline structure. Roughly speaking, a mineral is a solid substance that is homogeneous in chemical composition, although it may be heterogeneous in appearance, with an insignificant content of impurities and interlayers.
A mineral can have several mineral species, distinguished by slight variations in chemical composition. For example, quartz is found in different types with characteristic shades: white quartz, lilac amethyst, transparent rock crystal, yellow citrine, dark smoky quartz.
An interesting fact: native mercury, which is capable of acquiring a clear crystal lattice when frozen, is also classified as a mineral. But water is recognized not as a mineral, but as a solution of the mineral “ice”!
In our catalog, minerals are presented in an elite finishing collection: semi-precious minerals – amethyst, sodalite, malachite and agate; as well as quartz, which is often found in the earth’s crust.
There are many classifications of minerals. We will focus on the one based on the prevalence in rock strata:
- Rock-forming materials are the most common, making up the bulk of the rock (quartz, feldspars, calcite, plagioclase);
- Accessory – minerals that are often found in rocks in the form of small inclusions (for example, garnet, mica);
- Ore minerals (native metals, as well as metal sulfides and oxides). Ore minerals have a metallic luster, which is why they are quite easily distinguishable in rocks. Often used as a source of ore smelting.
- Rare minerals are single mineral aggregates. Most newly discovered minerals are extremely rare.
Rocks
A natural formation that arose in the depths or on the surface of the earth, composed of several mineral species. Those. This is a polymineral natural formation. The minerals that make up the rock, as well as its occurrence, depend on the geological conditions of its genesis.
It is the conditions for the formation of rocks that underlie their main classification. So, 3 groups of rocks:
Igneous rocks
They are formed due to the cooling of hot magma – this can occur on the surface of the earth and the ocean floor (basalts) or in the depths at various depths (granites). Igneous rocks are characterized by high stability, partly explained by the conditions of their formation – at ultra-high temperatures and pressure. The composition of these rocks is dominated by silica (quartz), plagioclases, feldspars, mica, and less commonly, ore minerals.
Granites, basalts and related rocks are widely used in all areas of finishing: construction, architecture, landscaping. Igneous rocks are characterized by a wide range of colors and textures: from uniform beige, gray and black to bright shades of red, yellow, and blue. As a rule, a complex ornate pattern is characteristic of igneous rocks that have also gone through strong metamorphic changes. These breeds also belong to the second group:
Metamorphic rocks
These are igneous or sedimentary rocks that have undergone strong changes in the thickness of the earth due to high temperatures and pressures, movements of the earth’s crust, and also when they are exposed to foreign solutions. Under these circumstances, the rock changes its mineral composition, density, degree of crystallinity and other physicochemical characteristics.
Metamorphic rocks include quartzite, schists, many varieties of granite rocks, skarns and amphibolites. The use of these species is not limited: almost any interior and exterior decoration, manufacturing of products.
Sedimentary rocks
Rocks that are formed by alteration of continental or marine sediments in the uppermost layers of the earth’s crust. Sedimentary rocks are formed by the weathering and destruction of igneous or metamorphic rocks; during the destruction and mineral replacement of the remains of organisms (shells, mollusks); in the process of converting parent rock into clayey matter.
For the most part, sedimentary rocks have less hardness and strength than parent rocks (igneous and metamorphic). The exceptions are durable varieties of limestone, quartz sandstone (an amazingly durable material).
