Gneiss is a type of metamorphic stone which is widely spread around the whole planet. Some of the oldest stones discovered are gneiss stones too.
The distinguishing feature of gneiss is its foliated structure. It is interesting to note that because of the availability of different minerals in it, light and dark bands alternate.
In this article we are going to discuss some frequently asked questions about gneiss, and we will strive to provide the best and most exhaustive answers possible.
What is gneiss used for?
Gneiss is schist metamorphic stone with structure similar to the structure of granite. It is very hard and can be used in applications in which granite is typically used. Some types of gneiss are used for cladding houses or other buildings.
Gneiss is also used for the building or cladding of pathways, waterfalls, fountains, decorative areas, inerior lining of walls, tombstones, etc.
Where was most likely metamorphic stone such as gneiss formed?
Metamorphic rocks can most likely be discovered in sites which are located deep underground. The reason is that they were formed by the gathering of other minerals under high pressure. Such pressure is caused by the collision of plates in the lithosphere.
Gneiss is the main stone on large metamorphic terrains. It is also found at the foot of eroded mountains, in glacier formations, etc.
Which are the useful features of gneiss?
Because gneiss is schist rock, it features beautiful loops and patterns that make it attractive and frequently used for polished countertops, as well as cladding plates. Gneiss is very hard, and for that reason it can be said that items made of it last for centuries. Because it is a good insulator, buildings cladded with gneiss are cool in summer, and warm in winter.
Are there fossils in gneiss?
No, there are no fossils in gneiss, because it is strongly metamorphic rock, and even if it was formed in an area where there were rocks containing fossils, the metamorphosis destroyed them.
What is the difference between gneiss and schist?
Gneiss and schist are the most frequently encountered metamorphic rocks. Gneiss is schist rock composed mainly of quartz and feldspar. Schist is also schist rock, but the minerals inside it are different. Gneiss differ from schist in another aspect too, as it has layered structure.
How is gneiss formed?
When clay schists are subjected to heat and pressure, they turn into a plate. Afterwards the plate turns into phylladic rock, which turns into schist, and finally the schist turns into gneiss. Gneiss is the ultimate form. It can also be obtained when granite or similar magma rock is subjected to very strong heat and high pressure.
Is gneiss precious?
Gneiss is relatively frequently encountered rock which was formed via metamorphism. Its preciousness is due to the features it possesses and which make it, similarly to granite, a valuable building material with a lot of capabilities for application.
How many types of gneiss exist?
Geologists distinguish between different gneiss types, according to the initial type of the rock before it underwent metamorphosis.
Orthogneiss is rock that was once volcanic rock. Those are stones that formed during the cooling of magma, and afterwards turned into gneiss.
Paragneiss is stone that was once sedimentary stone. Such stones initially formed as sedimentary layers, before the metamorphosis process turned them into gneiss.
How old is gneiss?
Scientists determine gneiss as one of the oldest stone types in the world. The age of Acasta gneiss, for example, has been determined as approximately 4 million years, which makes it the oldest stone in the world. Old gneiss rock formations are also found in Scotland, Scandinavia, and in the region of the Baltic plate.
We hope that with our frequently asked questions and the answers to them you have enriched your knowledge in geology, and more specifically about gneiss, which is a wonderful stone with a lot of capabilities for use in the construction industry.