Amphibolite is a rock with a composition that in the old days either could not, or did not want to understand. Otherwise, why would a quite noble stone is given such a dark name? Amphibolite – it’s because of the Greek “amphibolia” – polysemy, ambiguity, ambiguity.
In what way could scientists of the past centuries who have given a beautiful breed such a mysterious name could not understand?
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“Secret” composition of amphibolite
Plagioclase and hornblende make up half the volume of amphiolite. The tenth part falls on ore, silicate, and sometimes precious (like garnet, diopside and quartz) impurities. But the faithful 40% of the breed are amphiboles, so-called band silicates, in which besides silicon oxide and hydroxyl group there are atoms of various metals.
Most often in amphiboles there are iron, calcium and magnesium. Often, and the replacement of the listed elements with manganese, sodium and other alkali metals. It was this metallic “discord” that informed a solid rock breed of irrelevant mystery. To some extent, the diversity of the composition of amphibolites affects the physical properties of the rock – but insignificantly.
Beautiful and durable amphibolite
Amphibolite is a metamorphic rock. Its formation takes place at temperatures of the order of several hundred degrees and pressure, ensuring dense compacting of mineral debris – that is, at depths of several kilometers from the surface of the Earth.
By appearance, amphibolite is similar to granite, but it surpasses it in terms of artistic potential. The stone is granular, sometimes evenly painted in black-green, reddish, brown and even blue tones. The most decorative are amphibolite varieties with pronounced stratification of mineral inclusions. Milky white quartz, alternating with gray or colored crumb of plagioclase and amphibole, makes the products from amphibolite especially expressive.
Application of amphibolite
In the construction industry, amphibolite is also used as a wild stone for masonry and backfilling, and as a facing material. It is noteworthy that the use of amphibolite by the most ancient human tribes. From the solid stone, the first agricultural tools-hoes, diggers, and chisels-were cut out.
Variegated varieties of stone find demand from artists, decorators and sculptors. Details from multi-colored amphibolites are fitted and glued together. So, mosaics, boxes, vases, table-tops, interior groups are born, in which reddish pomegranate amphibolites coexist with light (due to pure quartz) and blue (sodium-calcium) silicates.
Due to the extreme prevalence of amphibolites, there is an infinite variety of textures and structural features inherent in this breed. The most valuable are the amphibolites, on the section of which the tangled tangles of hornblende fibers are drawn.
Stone casting from amphibolites
Amphibolite is a valuable raw material for the stone industry. Softening of the rock by heating requires a large expenditure of thermal energy, so the crushed stone is mixed with mineral salts, which lower the melting point of amphibolites – and they are heated in gas furnaces that resemble martens.
To avoid boiling and foaming of the melt, the temperature during the heat treatment of amphibolite is progressively reduced. The resulting melt has a sufficiently low viscosity, good flowability and excellent technological properties.
Firming, amphibolites retain their monolithicity, they do not crack, and they are densified – which makes it possible to use molded parts as responsible elements of structures erected in an aggressive environment. Unlike steel, cast amphibolites are not afraid of rusting, they are resistant to abrasion and high static loads.
Low thermal conductivity of amphibolite allows saving on thermal insulation when using cast stone as a wall material.
Amphibolites do not form large deposits. Therefore, the extraction of stone is conducted either in conjunction with the development of other minerals, or in small isolated quarries. This feature increases the commodity value of amphibolite raw materials.
General Amphibole Quartz Crystal Healing Information
Amphibole Quartz is also known by the names Red Rabbit Quartz in Asia and Angel Wing Phantom Quartz over the rest of the world. This is due to the inclusions looking like Angel Wings. It is no coincidence that these crystals have a close link with the angelic realm.