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Aplite
Aplite is a fine-grained, light-colored igneous rock that's made up of mostly quartz and alkali feldspar. It's formed when late residual melts crystallize in veins and dykes within intrusive bodies. Aplites form when the remaining uncrystallized parts of the original magma fill fractures, which can be the result of repeated phases of intrusion, solidification, and fracturing.
Colors It Comes In - white, light gray, or pinkish
Fracture Pattern - Uneven/Rigid
Shape - veins and dikes
Luster -
Adamantine or resinous:
Aplite can have an adamantine or resinous luster.
Submatallic:
Some iron-rich varieties of aplite can have a submatallic luster.
Shiny phyllite: Aplite can have a shiny phyllite luster.
Texture - fine-grained, equigranular, sugary texture
Where It Can Be Found -
Within granitic intrusions:
Aplite can be found within granitic bodies, such as granites and granodiorites.
In country rock:
Aplite can be found in the country rock surrounding granitic intrusions.
In association with pegmatites: Aplite can be found in close association with pegmatites, which are similar rocks that are coarser grained.
In Priest's Cove, Cape Cornwall, Cornwall, UK: Tourmaline aplite can be found in Priest's Cove.
Hardness On The Mohs Scale - 6.5 Out Of 10
