NEPHELINE SYENITE ORE APPLICATIONS 2

Dimension stone. *
The Nepheline Syenite at Table Mountain presents excellent characteristics for dimension stone applications. The physical characteristics of strength, tenacity (toughness), hardness, nonfriability and resistance to environmental damage make the stone an excellent candidate for ornamental use.

A “star” drill hole through a block of nepheline syenite at Table Mountain illustrates the ability to sharply cut the stone.

The deposit presents wide fracturing (see photo on title page) so that the stone can be quarried in blocks by means of controlled blasting in combination with diamond-impregnated wire cutting saws. In addition, cutting the stone with an oxy-acetylene torch may prove to be advantageous due to the fluxing qualities naturally intrinsic in the rock.

*Editors note: In the countertop business nepheline is considered to be the ultimate material for upscale applications. As countertops it is called "Blue Pearl Granite" and most of it is imported from Norway.