Diorite
A variety of Igneous
What is Diorite?
Diorite rock has a contrasting mix of black and white mineral grains. The most famous diorite sculpture is the Code of Hammurabi, a black pillar inscribed with Babylonian laws. Diorite accepts a bright polish and can be attractive as a gemstone. It is used in the construction of roads and buildings and is cut and polished for building facings.
Uses & Applications
Diorite is a common choice for stone countertops in modern kitchens and bathrooms. When crushed, it can be used to make road pavement, as well as the base structure for buildings and parking lots. Due to its applications for construction as well as its beauty, its use dates back to the Incan and Mayan civilizations.
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Diorite Localities Map
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Key Characteristics
Formation of Diorite
Diorite, which is very rare, underlies comparatively small areas; source localities include Leicestershire (one name for microdiorite—markfieldite—exists due to the rock's being found in the village of Markfield) and Aberdeenshire, UK; Guernsey; Sondrio, Italy; Thuringia and Saxony in Germany; Finland; Romania; Northeastern Turkey; central Sweden; southern Vancouver Island around Victoria; the Darran Range of New Zealand; the Andes Mountains; and Concordia in South Africa. An orbicular variety found in Corsica is called corsite.
Clasts of Diorite
Dacite, andesite, granodiorite, diorite, vein quartz, and silicified tuff
Quick Facts
Physical Properties
- Color
- Dark gray, white, black
- Hardness (Mohs)
- 6 - 7
- Density
- 2.8 - 3 g/cm³
Chemical Properties
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