Diorite Igneous Rock – Pack of 2
by American Educational Products

Diorite is a relative rare intrusive igneous rock, that is primarily made up of silicate minerals. It is considered intrusive because it was formed by the crystallization of magma as it pushed its way up from deep with the earth, filling in any available spaces that it could find. It features a speckled, coarse-grained texture, and is most commonly produced around a chain of volcanoes that formed above a subducting tectonic plate, and in the formation of mountains like the Andes.

Though rare, it was known to ancient civilizations for its extreme hardness, and was used to work granite. That same hardness allowed a stonemason to give it a high polish, providing a durable and lasting work when finished. The most famous work that diorite has been used for was the Code of Hammurabi, which was inscribed upon a pillar of black diorite that was almost 7.5 feet tall.

It is usually a grey to dark grey in color, though it has been found in black or blue-grey, and with a greenish cast to it.

Each rock or mineral specimen measures approximately 1-2 inches in length along its longest side.

Origin: CO, Canada