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Aplite
A rock subtype
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About Aplite
Name:
The term, from a Greek word meaning simple, was in use before 1823.
A light-coloured, igneous rock characterized by a fine-grained (usually 0.1-2 mm) saccharoidal (i.e., aplitic) texture. Aplites may range in composition from granitic to gabbroic, but the term aplite with no modifier is generally understood to mean granitic aplite or aplitic granite, consisting essentially of quartz, potassium feldspar, and albite.
Similar to microgranite, which is slightly coarser, typically 2-5 mm. Aplite usually has a visibly saccharoidal texture, not aphanitic. Aplite is also generally restricted to dykes and bands in pegmatites, while microgranite can occur in larger bodies.
Similar to microgranite, which is slightly coarser, typically 2-5 mm. Aplite usually has a visibly saccharoidal texture, not aphanitic. Aplite is also generally restricted to dykes and bands in pegmatites, while microgranite can occur in larger bodies.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
50505
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:50505:1
Similar Names
| Alite | A synonym of Halite |
| Alite (of Törnebohm) | A synonym of Hatrurite |
| Aploid | A synonym of 'Nepheline-bearing aplitic granite' |
Classification of Aplite
Sub-divisions of Aplite
Mineralogy of Aplite
Essential minerals - these are minerals that are required within the classification of this rock:
| Feldspar | A petrological term for Feldspar Group. |
| Silica > Quartz | SiO2 |
Chemical Analysis
Oxide wt%:
| 1 | |
|---|---|
| SiO2 | 75.01 % |
| Al2O3 | 13.97 % |
| Fe2O3 | 1.39 % |
| MnO | 0.03 % |
| CaO | 0.75 % |
| Na2O | 3.62 % |
| K2O | 4.93 % |
| Total: | 99.7 % |
Sample references:
| ID | Locality | Reference | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Birch Portage pegmatites, Jan Lake, Saskatchewan, Canada | The bulk chemistry of the rocks was determined primarily by X‑ray fluorescence (XRF), with flame photometry used specifically for alkali elements. |
Synonyms of Aplite
Other Language Names for Aplite
German:Aplit
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 9 photos of Aplite associated with Arfvedsonite | NaNa2(Fe2+4Fe3+)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| 6 photos of Aplite associated with 'Granite' | |
| 6 photos of Aplite associated with Quartz | SiO2 |
| 4 photos of Aplite associated with Topaz | Al2(SiO4)(F,OH)2 |
| 4 photos of Aplite associated with Albite | Na(AlSi3O8) |
| 4 photos of Aplite associated with Orthoclase | K(AlSi3O8) |
| 3 photos of Aplite associated with 'Dalmatian Stone' | |
| 3 photos of Aplite associated with Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| 2 photos of Aplite associated with 'Skarn' | |
| 2 photos of Aplite associated with Scheelite | Ca(WO4) |
Internet Links for Aplite
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-50505.html
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Please feel free to link to this page.
References for Aplite
Reference List:
Derry, D. R. (1931) The Genetic Relationships of Pegmatites, Aplites, and Tin Veins. Geological Magazine, 68 (10) 454-475 doi:10.1017/s0016756800097570
Davison, E. H. (1932) Pegmatites, Aplites and Tin Veins. Geological Magazine, 69 (1) 47 doi:10.1017/s0016756800095881
Boydell, H. C. (1932) The Genetic Relationships of Pegmatites, Aplites and Tin Veins. Geological Magazine, 69 (3) 142 doi:10.1017/s0016756800097028
Dill, Harald G. (2015) Pegmatites and aplites: Their genetic and applied ore geology. Ore Geology Reviews, 69. 417-561 doi:10.1016/j.oregeorev.2015.02.022
Dill, Harald G. (2016) The CMS classification scheme (Chemical composition – Mineral assemblage – Structural geology) – linking geology to mineralogy of pegmatitic and aplitic rocks. Neues Jahrbuch für Mineralogie - Abhandlungen Journal of Mineralogy and Geochemistry, 193 (3) 231-263 doi:10.1127/njma/2016/0304
Pontoon Lake, Yellowknife, North Slave Region, Northwest Territories, Canada