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Breccia

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What Is Breccia, How Does It Form and What Is I

What is Breccia?
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Breccia is a term most often used for clastic sedimentary rocks that are composed of large angular fragments (over two millimeters in diameter). The spaces between the large angular fragments can be filled with a matrix of smaller particles or a mineral cement that binds the rock together.

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How Does Breccia Form?

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Breccia forms where broken, angular fragments of rock or mineral debris accumulate. One possible location for breccia formation is at the base of an outcrop where mechanical weathering debris accumulates. Another would be in stream deposits near the outcrop such as an alluvial fan. Some breccias form as debris flow deposits. The angular particle shape reveals that they have not been transported very far (transport wears the sharp points and edges of angular particles into rounded shapes). After deposition the fragments are bound together by a mineral cement or by a matrix of smaller particles that fills the spaces between the fragments.

Chert Breccia: The angu matrix is an iron-stained specimen is about two in

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How Does Breccia Differ From Conglomerate?

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Breccia and conglomerate are very similar rocks. They are both clastic sedimentary rocks composed of particles larger than two millimeters in diameter. The difference is in the shape of the large particles. In breccia the large particles are angular in shape but in conglomerate the particles are rounded. This reveals a difference in how far the particles were transported. Near the outcrop where the fragments were produced by mechanical weathering the shape is angular. However, during transport by water away from the outcrop the sharp points and edges of those angular fragments are rounded. The rounded particles would form a conglomerate.

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What is Breccia's Composition?

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Breccia has many compositions. Its composition is mainly determined by the rock and mineral material that the angular fragments were produced from. The climate of the source area can also influence composition. Most breccias are a mix of rock fragments and mineral grains. The type of rock that the fragments were produced from is often used as an adjective when referring to the rock. Some examples: sandstone breccia, limestone breccia, granite breccia, chert breccia, basalt breccia and others. Often a breccia will contain many types of angular rock fragments. These are known as polymict breccias or polymictic breccias.

Debris Flow Breccia: O debris flow deposits in D about three feet (one me Noonday Dolomite. Unite

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Limestone Breccia: A breccia that contains clasts of multiple types of limestone. Specimen is about four inches (ten centimeters) across.

Talus Slopes: Scene of mechanical weathering d abundance. Panorama fr Lake into the Owens Val Grundy.

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What Color is Breccia?

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Breccia can be any color. The color of the matrix or cement along with the color of the angular rock fragments determine its color. Breccia can be a very colorful rock as shown in the photo at the top-right of this page

Is the Word "Breccia" Used in Other Ways?

Geologists have been very generous in their use of the word "breccia." It is common to hear the term used when referring to a rock or rock debris made up of angular fragments. Although it is mainly used for rocks of sedimentary origin it can be used for other types of rocks. A few more uses of the word are given below. Collapse Breccia: Broken rock that originates from a cavern or magma chamber collapse. Fault Breccia: Broken rock found in the contact area between two fault blocks and produced by movement of the fault. Flow Breccia: A lava texture produced when the crust of a lava flow is broken and jumbled during movement. Igneous Breccia: A term used for a rock composed angular fragments of igneous rocks. "Flow breccia" and "pyroclastic breccia" could be called "igneous breccia". Impact Breccia: A deposit of angular rock debris produced by the impact of an asteroid or other cosmic body. See an article about "impactites". Pyroclastic Breccia: A term used for a deposit of igneous rock debris that was ejected by a volcanic blast or pyroclastic flow. When you hear the word "breccia" used in reference to a rock or rock material it is fairly safe to assume that it means angular-shaped pieces.

Alluvial Fan: An alluvial fan was weathered from a very short distance. Un

What are the Uses of Breccia?

The rock, breccia, has very few uses. However, the word "breccia" is used as a trade name for a group of dimension stone products with a broken, angular pattern. Names such as "Breccia Oniciata", "Breccia Pernice" and "Breccia Damascata" are cut and polished limestones and marbles that reveal a broken, angular pattern. These breccias are used as architectural stones for interior building veneers, tiles, window sills and other decorative applications. These are proprietary names applied to the rock from specific quarries.

Impact Breccia: A 457.7 crater in northern Siberia textures within a single m threw millions of tons of r rocks from different strata Notkin Aerolite Meteor

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