igneous
Diorite
Diorite (intermediate intrusive igneous rock)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Mottled black and white (\"salt and pepper\"); Luster: Dull to sub-vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific Gravity: 2.8-3.0
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs)
- Color
- Mottled black and white (\"salt and pepper\")
- Luster
- Dull to sub-vitreous
Identified More igneous →
Explore Diorite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Mottled black and white (\"salt and pepper\"); Luster: Dull to sub-vitreous; Structure: Phaneritic (coarse-grained); Specific Gravity: 2.8-3.0
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of magma beneath the Earth's surface (intrusive) in volcanic arcs and mountain-building regions above subduction zones.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone for roads, as a base material, and occasionally as architectural stone or for curbing.
Geological facts
Diorite was used by ancient civilizations like the Egyptians and Sumerians for statues and stelae because of its extreme hardness and durability.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its phaneritic texture with roughly equal parts dark and light minerals; look for it in batholiths and mountain ranges like the Andes.
