Larvikite
alkali feldspar, amphibole |
Larvikite is an
labradorescence) on polished surfaces. Olivine can be present along with apatite, and locally quartz. Larvikite is usually rich in titanium, with titanaugite and/or titanomagnetite
present.
Larvikite occurs in the Larvik
Oslo Rift (Oslo Graben) surrounded by ~1.1 billion year old Sveconorwegian gneisses. The Larvik Batholith is of Permian age, about 292–298 million years old.[2] Larvikite is also found in the Killala Lake Alkalic Rock Complex near Thunder Bay in Ontario, Canada.[3]
The name originates from the town of Larvik in Norway, where this type of igneous rock is found. Many quarries exploit larvikite in the vicinity of Larvik.
Formation
Intrusions of larvikite in Norway form part of the suite of
period, associated with the formation of the Oslo Rift. The crystallisation of a ternary feldspar indicates that this rock began to crystallise under lower crustal conditions.[1]
Uses
Larvikite is prized for its high polish and the labradorescence of its feldspar crystals, and is used as dimension stone, often cladding the facades of commercial buildings and corporate headquarters.[1] It is known informally as Blue Pearl Granite, although this is not an accurate description. Larvikite has been designated by the International Union of Geological Sciences as a Global Heritage Stone Resource.[4]
References
- ^ ISBN 978-82-92-39442-7.
- ^ Larvikite geology
- ISBN 0-7729-0580-0.
- ^ "Designation of GHSR". IUGS Subcommission: Heritage Stones. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
External links
Wikimedia Commons has media related to Larvikite.
- Petrogenesis of the Oslo Region Larvikites and Associated Rocks (abstract) Journal of Petrology, 1980, volume 21, Number 3, pages 499-531
- Structure of the larvikite-lardalite complex, Oslo-region, Norway, and its evolution (abstract) International Journal of Earth Sciences, 1978, volume 67, number 1, pages 330-342