INFORMATION ABOUT DIABASE
WHAT IS DIABASE?
Diabase (dolerite) is green or dark green coloured semi-deep volcanic stone. Structural formation of diabase is the same formation with gabbro or basalt wheras it is texturally between them. Diabase granular structure is coarser than basalt and contain glass; when grains getting bigger diabase turn into gabbro. In literature diabase stones sometimes called as micro gabbro. In nature diabase mostly found as surface leakage ( dayk and sill ) in basaltic structures.
Diabases mostly known as granite without quartz. Silica ratio in their chemical composition is approximately 45-52%. Diabases never contain quartz or feldispat in their structure. They are seperated from granites by the reduction of quartz minerals. Diabases mostly formed with the composition of plagioclase feldspar ( mostly labrador ) and pyroxenes ( augite ). The crystals formed diabase can be seen with naked eyes but in some conditions porphyritic rocks in which their basaltic combination is pyroxene or especially plagioclase phenocrysts stones can be named as diabase. Ophitic texture forms the main charecter of diabases.
APPLICATION AREAS OF DIABASE
Because diabases are hard stones according to their structure; they are mostly preferred in exterior area applications like parks, gardens, squares, pavements, walking ways, urban roads closed to traffic, boulevards, overpasses and underpasses, bridge coatings, walls claddings and swimming pool floorings.
Diabases are also applied as decorative purposes like sculptures, human and animal figurines. Circular amorphous forms are mostly preferred in landscaping applications.
In industrial usage areas of diabase is micronized sand in construction chemicals industry, rockwool as insulation industry, granular material in concrete production industry, glazing material in ceramics industry, hardcore in covering of highways superstructure and ballast material in railways.
Application Areas Of Diabase
DIABASE COLOURS
Diabase stones are found in the nature as light green colour to dark green colour scale.
DIABASE SURFACE TREATMENT
Diabase stones accept all surface treatments as to its structure. Most preferred surface treatment of diabase stone is polishing, sanding, patinato, honing, burning, burning+patinato, sanding+patinato, buring+honing, sanding+honing and hammering+honing.
TYPES OF DIABASE
Magnetite, olivine, ilmenite, hornblende, biotite and chlorite minerals are rarely found in diabase structure. Diabase types are named as according to minerals that they contain most like biototal syenite, hornblende syenite, augite syenite etc...
