Rock and Mineral Identification

Rock given : Amphibolite

It contains amphibole, especially the species hornblende and actinolite, as well as plagioclase
. Amphibolite is a coarse-grained metamorphic rock that is composed mainly of green, brown
or black amphibole minerals and plagioclase feldspar. The amphiboles are usually members
of the hornblende group. It can also contain minor amounts of other metamorphic minerals
such as: biotite, epidote, garnet, wollastonite, andalusite, staurolite, kyanite and silimanite.
Quartz, magnetite and calcite can also be present in small amounts.

How does it formed ?

Amphibolite is a rock of convergent plate boundaries where heat and pressure cause regional
metamorphism. It can be produced through the metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks such as
basalt and gabbro or from the metamorphism of clay-rich sedimentary rocks such as marl or
graywacke. The metamorphism sometimes flattens and elongates the mineral grains to
produce a schistose texture.

Orthoamphibolites
Metamorphic rocks composed primarily of amphibole, albite, with subordinate epidote,
zoisite, chlorite, quartz, sphene, and accessory leucoxene, ilmenite and magnetite which have
a protolith of an igneous rock
Amphibolite is a grouping of rocks composed mainly of amphibole and plagioclase feldspars,
with little or no quartz. It is typically dark-colored and heavy, with a weakly foliated or
schistose (flaky) structure. The small flakes of black and white in the rock often give it a salt-
and-pepper appearance.

Amphibolites need not be derived from metamorphosed mafic rocks. Because metamorphism
creates minerals based entirely upon the chemistry of the protolith, certain 'dirty marls' and
volcanic sediments may actually metamorphose to an amphibolite assemblage. Deposits
containing dolomite and siderite also readily yield amphibolites (tremolite-schists, grunerite-
schists, and others) especially where there has been a certain amount of contact
metamorphism by adjacent granitic masses. Metamorphosed basalts create ortho-
amphibolites and other chemically appropriate lithologies create para-amphibolites.

Tremolite, while it is a metamorphic amphibole, is derived most usually from highly

metamorphosed ultramafic rocks, and thus tremolite-talc schists are not generally considered
as 'amphibolites'.

Name

The name amphibole used to include tremolite, actinolite, tourmaline and hornblende. The
group was so named by Hay in allusion to the protean variety, in composition and
appearance, assumed by its minerals. This term has since been applied to the whole group.
Numerous sub-species and varieties are distinguished, the more important of which are
tabulated below in two series. The formulae of each will be seen to be built on the general
double-chain silicate formula RSi4O11.

Four of the amphibole minerals are among the minerals commonly called asbestos. These are:
anthophyllite, riebeckite, cummingtonite/grunerite series, and actinolite/tremolite series. The
Cummingtonite/grunerite series is often termed amosite,or Brown Asbestos and riebeckite is
known as crocidolite or Blue Asbestos. These are generally called amphibole asbestos.[2]

Class
Amphibolite is a coarse-grained regional metamorphic rock . It is composed mostly of the
mineral amphibole. Amphibolite have very little to no quartz . While amphibole refers to a
group of minerals , amphibolite is referred to this single mineral . Amphibolite is a rock
which is found nearly in convergent plate boundaries where heat and pressure cause regional
metamorphism . Amphibolite can be produced through metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks
like or from the metamorphism of clay-rich sedimentary rocks
Origin :

Amphibolite is relatively common. It is found in regions that have been affected by regional
metamorphism. Amphibolite is found throughout the Appalachian Mountain chain. For
example, significant quantities of amphibolite are found in the Gore Mountain region of the
Adirondack Mountains in New York State. They are also found in the Great Smoky
Mountains National Park on the Tennessee-North Carolina border. Other states along the
Appalachian Mountains producing amphibolite are Maine, Connecticut, Pennsylvania and
North Carolina.

Texture

Top view

This sample contains small reddish

garnet crystalson the right part of the
sample

Colour : Black

Side view
Example of other amphibolite

A contact between amphibolite (on the

right) and tonalite pegmatite. Dark
mineral in the lower left is biotite

Folidated garnet amphibolite

Shiny amphibolite because of luster

properties from hornblende
Mineral inside the rock

Amphibolites define a particular set of temperature and pressure conditions known as the
amphibolite facies

Amphibolite facies equilibrium mineral assemblages of various protolith rock types consist
of:

Basalt ortho-amphibolite; hornblende/actinolite albite biotite quartz

accessories; often remnant greenschist facies assemblages including, notably, chlorite
High-magnesia basalts; as ortho-amphibolite, but may contain anthophyllite, a Mg-
rich amphibole
Ultramafic rocks; tremolite, asbestiform amphibole, talc, pyroxene, wollastonite,
prograde metamorphic olivine (rarely)
Sedimentary para-amphibolite; hornblende/actinolite albite biotite quartz garnet
(calcite wollastonite)
Pelites; quartz, orthoclase albite, biotite actinolite garnet staurolite +/-
sillimanite
Usage :

Use in a lot of industry

Road construction : Because of it harder than limestone and heavier that granite , amphibolite
is quarried and crushed for use as a aggregate in highway construction and as a ballast stone
in railroad construction .

Architectural : Higher quality stone is quarried, cut and polished for architectural use. It is
used as facing stone on the exterior of buildings, and, as floor tile and panels indoors. Some
of the most attractive pieces are cut for use as countertop . Reason for use ,b ecause of its
attractive textures, dark color, hardness and polishability and its ready availability. In these
architectural uses amphibolite is one of the many types of stone sold as "black granite".