Tephrite


Tephrite is an igneous, volcanic rock, with aphanitic to porphyritic texture. Mineral content is usually abundant feldspathoids, plagioclase, and lesser alkali feldspar. Pyroxenes are common accessory minerals. Quartz and olivine are absent. The absence of olivine distinguishes them from the otherwise similar basanite. Its parameters are defined in the QAPF diagram. Occurrences include leucite nepheline tephrite from Hamberg bei Neckarelz near Heidelberg, Germany, phonolite-tephrite at Monte Vulture, Basilicata, Italy and basanite–tephrite intrusions in Namibia.