Editing Breccia

{{Short description|Rock composed of angular fragments}}
[[File:Basalt breccia.jpg|thumb|right|[[Basalt]] breccia in the [[Canary Islands]]; green [[groundmass]] is composed of [[epidote]] ]]
[[File:Titus Canyon Narrows.jpg|thumb|Megabreccia (left) at [[Titus Canyon]] Narrows, [[Death Valley National Park]], California]]
[[File:DebrisFlowDepositRestingSpringsPass.JPG|thumb|Tertiary breccia at Resting Springs Pass, Mojave Desert, California]]
[[File:Azurite-Malachite Breccia.jpg|thumb|Unusual breccia cemented by [[azurite]] and [[malachite]], [[Morenci Mine]], Arizona]]

'''Breccia''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|r|ɛ|tʃ|i|ə}} {{respell|BRETCH|ee|ə}} {{small|or}} {{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|r|ɛ|ʃ|i|ə}} {{respell|BRESH|ee|ə}}, {{IPA|it|ˈbrettʃa|lang}}; {{langnf|it||breach}}) is a rock composed of large angular broken fragments of [[mineral]]s or [[Rock (geology)|rock]]s [[cementation (geology)|cemented]] together by a fine-grained [[matrix (geology)|matrix]].

The word has its origins in the Italian language, in which it means "rubble".<ref name="allaby-2013">{{cite book |editor1-last=Allaby |editor1-first=Michael |title=A dictionary of geology and earth sciences |date=2013 |publisher=Oxford University Press |location=Oxford |isbn=9780199653065 |edition=Fourth |chapter=Breccia}}</ref> A breccia may have a variety of different origins, as indicated by the named types including [[sedimentary]] breccia, [[fault (geology)|fault]] or [[tectonics|tectonic]] breccia, [[igneous]] breccia, [[Impact event|impact]] breccia, and [[Hydrothermal circulation|hydrothermal]] breccia.

A '''megabreccia''' is a breccia composed of very large rock fragments, sometimes kilometers across, which can be formed by [[landslide]]s,<ref name="geology.utah.gov">{{cite journal |last1=Biek |first1=Robert F. |title=The Early Miocene Markagunt Megabreccia: Utah's largest catastrophic landsline |url=https://geology.utah.gov/map-pub/survey-notes/the-early-miocene-markagunt-megabreccia/ |journal=Utah Geological Survey Notes |date=May 2013 |volume=45 |number=2 |access-date=28 July 2020}}</ref> [[impact event]]s,<ref name="mcewen-etal-2008">{{cite journal |last1=McEwen |first1=A. S. |last2=Tornabene |first2=L. |last3=Grant |first3=J. |last4=Wray |first4=J. |last5=Mustard |first5=J. |title=Noachian Megabreccia on Mars |journal=American Geophysical Union, Fall Meeting |date=2008 |volume=2008 |pages=P43D–03 |url=https://ui.adsabs.harvard.edu/abs/2008AGUFM.P43D..03M/abstract |access-date=28 July 2020 |bibcode=2008AGUFM.P43D..03M}}</ref> or [[caldera]] collapse.<ref name="goff-etal-2011">{{cite journal |last1=Goff |first1=Fraser |last2=Gardner |first2=Jamie N. |last3=Reneau |first3=Steven L. |last4=Kelley |first4=Shari A. |last5=Kempter |first5=Kirt A. |last6=Lawrence |first6=John R. |title=Geologic map of the Valles caldera, Jemez Mountains, New Mexico |journal=New Mexico Bureau of Geology and Mineral Resources Map Series |date=2011 |volume=79 |bibcode=2011AGUFM.V13C2606G |url=https://geoinfo.nmt.edu/publications/maps/geologic/gm/79/  |access-date=18 May 2020}}</ref>

==Types==
Breccia is composed of coarse rock fragments held together by cement or a fine-grained matrix.<ref name=Jackson1997>{{cite book |editor1-last=Jackson |editor1-first=Julia A. |title=Glossary of geology. |date=1997 |publisher=American Geological Institute |location=Alexandria, Virginia |isbn=0922152349 |edition=Fourth |chapter=breccia}}</ref> Like [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]], breccia contains at least 30 percent of [[gravel]]-sized particles (particles over 2mm in size), but it is distinguished from [[Conglomerate (geology)|conglomerate]] because the rock fragments have sharp edges that have not been worn down.<ref name=Boggs2006>{{cite book |last1=Boggs |first1=Sam |title=Principles of sedimentology and stratigraphy |date=2006 |publisher=Pearson Prentice Hall |location=Upper Saddle River, N.J. |isbn=0131547283 |page=135 |edition=4th}}</ref> These indicate that the gravel was deposited very close to its source area, since otherwise the edges would have been rounded during transport.<ref name="allaby-2013"/> Most of the rounding of rock fragments takes place within the first few kilometers of transport, though complete rounding of pebbles of very hard rock may take up to {{convert|300|km||sp=us}} of river transport.{{sfn|Boggs|2006|p=68}}

A ''megabreccia'' is a breccia containing very large rock fragments, from at least a meter in size to greater than 400 meters. In some cases, the clasts are so large that the brecciated nature of the rock is not obvious.{{sfn|Jackson|1997|loc="megabreccia"}} Megabreccias can be formed by [[landslide]]s,<ref name="geology.utah.gov"/> [[impact event]]s,<ref name="mcewen-etal-2008"/> or [[caldera]] collapse.<ref name="goff-etal-2011"/>

Breccias are further classified by their mechanism of formation.<ref name=Jackson1997/>

===Sedimentary===
Sedimentary breccia is breccia formed by sedimentary processes. For example, [[scree]] deposited at the base of a cliff may become cemented to form a talus breccia without ever experiencing transport that might round the rock fragments.{{sfn|Jackson|1997|loc="sedimentary breccia", "talus breccia"}}
Thick sequences of sedimentary ([[colluvial]]) breccia are generally formed next to fault scarps in [[graben]]s.<ref name="LonghitanoEtal2015">{{cite journal |last1=Longhitano |first1=S.G. |last2=Sabato |first2=L. |last3=Tropeano |first3=M. |last4=Murru |first4=M. |last5=Carannante |first5=G. |last6=Simone |first6=L. |last7=Cilona |first7=A. |last8=Vigorito |first8=M. |title=Outcrop reservoir analogous and porosity changes in continental deposits from an extensional basin: The case study of the upper Oligocene Sardinia Graben System, Italy |journal=Marine and Petroleum Geology |date=November 2015 |volume=67 |pages=439–459 |doi=10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2015.05.022|bibcode=2015MarPG..67..439L |hdl=11586/139746 |hdl-access=free }}</ref><ref name="MasonEtal2017">{{cite journal |last1=Mason |first1=J. |last2=Schneiderwind |first2=S. |last3=Pallikarakis |first3=A. |last4=Wiatr |first4=T. |last5=Mechernich |first5=S. |last6=Papanikolaou |first6=I. |last7=Reicherter |first7=K. |title=A Multidisciplinary Investigation at the Lastros-Sfaka Graben, Crete |journal=Bulletin of the Geological Society of Greece |date=27 July 2017 |volume=50 |issue=1 |pages=85 |doi=10.12681/bgsg.11704|s2cid=134862302 |doi-access=free }}</ref>

Sedimentary breccia may be formed by submarine [[debris flow]]s. [[Turbidite]]s occur as fine-grained peripheral deposits to sedimentary breccia flows.<ref name="Moore1989">{{cite journal |last1=Moore |first1=P. R. |title=Kirks Breccia: a late cretaceous submarine channelised debris flow deposit, Raukumara Peninsula, New Zealand |journal=Journal of the Royal Society of New Zealand |date=June 1989 |volume=19 |issue=2 |pages=195–203 |doi=10.1080/03036758.1989.10426448|bibcode=1989JRSNZ..19..195M }}</ref>

In a [[Karst topography|karst terrain]], a collapse breccia may form due to collapse of rock into a [[sinkhole]] or in [[cave]] development.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Demiralin |first1=A.S. |last2=Hurley |first2=N.F. |last3=Oesleby |first3=T.W. |title=Paleokarst Related Hydrocarbon Reservoirs |chapter=Karst Breccias in the Madison Limestone (Mississippian), Garland Field, Wyoming |year=1993 |pages=101–118 |publisher=Society for Sedimentary Geology |doi=10.2110/cor.93.18.0101 |isbn=1-56576-004-2 |url=https://archives.datapages.com/data/sepm_sp/CW18/Karst_Breccias_in_the_Madison.htm |access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref><ref name="Lopes2020">{{cite journal |last1=Lopes |first1=Tuane V. |last2=Rocha |first2=Aline C. |last3=Murad |first3=Marcio A. |last4=Garcia |first4=Eduardo L. M. |last5=Pereira |first5=Patricia A. |last6=Cazarin |first6=Caroline L. |title=A new computational model for flow in karst-carbonates containing solution-collapse breccias |journal=Computational Geosciences |date=February 2020 |volume=24 |issue=1 |pages=61–87 |doi=10.1007/s10596-019-09894-9|bibcode=2020CmpGe..24...61L |s2cid=208144669 }}</ref> Collapse breccias also form by dissolution of underlying [[evaporite]] beds.<ref>{{cite book |last1=Blatt |first1=Harvey |last2=Middletone |first2=Gerard |last3=Murray |first3=Raymond |title=Origin of sedimentary rocks |date=1980 |publisher=Prentice-Hall |location=Englewood Cliffs, N.J. |isbn=0136427103 |pages=546, 577 |edition=2d}}</ref>

===Fault===
{{Main|Fault breccia}}
[[Fault (geology)#Fault rock|Fault]] or tectonic breccia results from the grinding action of two fault blocks as they slide past each other. Subsequent [[Cementation (geology)|cementation]] of these broken fragments may occur by means of the introduction of [[mineral]] matter in [[groundwater]].<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Woodcock |first1=N. H. |last2=Mort |first2=K. |title=Classification of fault breccias and related fault rocks |journal=Geological Magazine |date=May 2008 |volume=145 |issue=3 |pages=435–440 |doi=10.1017/S0016756808004883|bibcode=2008GeoM..145..435W |s2cid=55133319 |url=https://www.gt-crust.ru/jour/article/view/620 }}</ref>

===Igneous ===
Igneous clastic rocks can be divided into two classes:

# Broken, fragmental rocks associated with volcanic eruptions, both of the [[lava]] and [[Pyroclastic rock|pyroclastic]] type;<ref name="fisher-schmincke-1984-89-92">{{cite book |last1=Fisher |first1=Richard V. |last2=Schmincke |first2=H.-U. |title=Pyroclastic rocks |date=1984 |publisher=Springer-Verlag |location=Berlin |isbn=3540127569 |pages=89–92}}</ref>
# Broken, fragmental rocks produced by [[intrusion|intrusive]] processes, usually associated with [[Intrusion|plutons]] or [[porphyry (geology)|porphyry]] stocks.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Wright |first1=A. E. |last2=Bowes |first2=D. R. |title=Classification of Volcanic Breccias: A Discussion |journal=Geological Society of America Bulletin |date=1963 |volume=74 |issue=1 |pages=79 |doi=10.1130/0016-7606(1963)74[79:COVBAD]2.0.CO;2}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Olianti |first1=Camille A.E. |last2=Harris |first2=Chris |title=A low-δ18O intrusive breccia from Koegel Fontein, South Africa: Remobilisation of basement that was hydrothermally altered during global glaciation? |journal=Lithos |date=February 2018 |volume=300-301 |pages=33–50 |doi=10.1016/j.lithos.2017.12.006|bibcode=2018Litho.300...33O }}</ref>

====Volcanic====
Volcanic pyroclastic rocks are formed by explosive eruption of lava and any rocks which are entrained within the eruptive column. This may include rocks plucked off the wall of the [[magma]] conduit, or physically picked up by the ensuing [[pyroclastic surge]].<ref name="fisher-schmincke-1984-89-92"/> Lavas, especially [[rhyolite]] and [[dacite]] flows, tend to form clastic volcanic rocks by a process known as ''autobrecciation''. This occurs when the thick, nearly solid lava breaks up into blocks and these blocks are then reincorporated into the lava flow again and mixed in with the remaining liquid magma. The resulting breccia is uniform in rock type and chemical composition.{{sfn|Allaby|2013|loc="Autobrecciated lava"}}

[[Caldera]] collapse leads to the formation of megabreccias, which are sometimes mistaken for outcrops of the caldera floor.{{sfn|Jackson|1997|loc="megabreccia"}} These are instead blocks of precaldera rock, often coming from the unstable oversteepened rim of the caldera.<ref name="goff-etal-2011"/> They are distinguished from ''mesobreccias'' whose clasts are less than a meter in size and which form layers in the caldera floor.{{sfn|Jackson|1997|loc="mesobreccia"}} Some clasts of caldera megabreccias can be over a kilometer in length.<ref name="goff-etal-2011"/>

Within the volcanic conduits of explosive volcanoes the volcanic breccia environment merges into the intrusive breccia environment. There the upwelling lava tends to solidify during quiescent intervals only to be shattered by ensuing eruptions. This produces an ''alloclastic'' volcanic breccia.{{sfn|Fisher|Schmincke|1984|p=89}}{{sfn|Allaby|2013|loc="Alloclast"}}

====Intrusive====
[[Clastic rocks]] are also commonly found in shallow [[subvolcanic rock|subvolcanic]] [[intrusion]]s such as porphyry stocks, [[granite]]s and [[kimberlite]] pipes, where they are transitional with volcanic breccias.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.2113/gsecongeo.69.3.412 |title=Origin of breccia pipes |journal=American Journal of Science |volume = 69 | pages = 412–413 |year=1974|last1=Mitcham|first1=T. W.|issue=3|bibcode=1974EcGeo..69..412M }}</ref> Intrusive rocks can become brecciated in appearance by multiple stages of intrusion, especially if fresh magma is intruded into partly consolidated or solidified magma. This may be seen in many granite intrusions where later [[aplite]] [[Vein (geology)|veins]] form a late-stage [[stockwork]] through earlier phases of the granite mass.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Nurmi |first1=P.A. |last2=Haapala |first2=I. |year=1986 |title=The Proterozoic granitoids of Finland: granite types, metallogeny and relation to crustal evolution |journal=Bulletin of the Geological Society of Finland |volume=58 |number=1 |pages=203–233|doi=10.17741/bgsf/58.1.014 }}</ref><ref>{{cite journal |last1=Vry |first1=V. H. |last2=Wilkinson |first2=J. J. |last3=Seguel |first3=J. |last4=Millan |first4=J. |title=Multistage Intrusion, Brecciation, and Veining at El Teniente, Chile: Evolution of a Nested Porphyry System |journal=Economic Geology |date=1 January 2010 |volume=105 |issue=1 |pages=119–153 |doi=10.2113/gsecongeo.105.1.119|bibcode=2010EcGeo.105..119V |url=https://figshare.com/articles/journal_contribution/22880465 }}</ref> When particularly intense, the rock may appear as a chaotic breccia.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Ansdell |first1=K. |last2=Normore |first2=N. |title=Constraints on the origin of intrusion breccias: Observations from the Paleoproterozoic Boundary Intrusions in the Flin Flon area |journal=GeoConvention |year=2020 |url=https://geoconvention.com/wp-content/uploads/abstracts/2020/57815-constraints-on-the-origin-of-intrusion-breccias_-o.pdf |access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref>

Clastic rocks in [[mafic]] and [[ultramafic rock|ultramafic]] intrusions have been found and form via several processes:
* consumption and melt-mingling with wall rocks, where the wall rocks are softened and gradually invaded by the hotter ultramafic intrusion (producing ''taxitic texture'');<ref name="BarnesEtal2016">{{cite journal |last1=Barnes |first1=Stephen J. |last2=Cruden |first2=Alexander R. |last3=Arndt |first3=Nicholas |last4=Saumur |first4=Benoit M. |title=The mineral system approach applied to magmatic Ni–Cu–PGE sulphide deposits |journal=Ore Geology Reviews |date=July 2016 |volume=76 |pages=296–316 |doi=10.1016/j.oregeorev.2015.06.012|doi-access=free |bibcode=2016OGRv...76..296B }}</ref>
* accumulation of rocks which fall through the magma chamber from the roof, forming chaotic remnants;<ref>{{cite book |last1=Philpotts |first1=Anthony R. |last2=Ague |first2=Jay J. |title=Principles of igneous and metamorphic petrology |date=2009 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge, UK |isbn=9780521880060 |edition=2nd |page=80}}</ref>
* autobrecciation of partly consolidated [[cumulate rocks|cumulate]] by fresh magma injections;<ref name="Robins1998">{{cite journal |last1=Robins |first1=Brian |title=The mode of emplacement of the Honningsvåg Intrusive Suite, Magerøya, northern Norway |journal=Geological Magazine |date=March 1998 |volume=135 |issue=2 |pages=231–244 |doi=10.1017/S0016756898008395|bibcode=1998GeoM..135..231R |s2cid=129955208 }}</ref>
* accumulation of [[xenolith]]s within a feeder conduit or vent conduit, forming a [[diatreme]] breccia pipe.{{sfn|Philpotts|Ague|2009|pp=89-93}}

===Impact===
[[File:AlamoBrecciaMedium.jpg|thumb|[[Alamo bolide impact]] breccia (Late [[Devonian]], Frasnian) near Hancock Summit, [[Pahranagat Range]], Nevada]]
Impact breccias are thought to be diagnostic of an [[impact event]] such as an [[asteroid]] or [[comet]] striking the Earth and are normally found at [[impact crater]]s. Impact breccia, a type of [[impactite]], forms during the process of [[impact crater]]ing when large [[meteorite]]s or [[comet]]s impact with the Earth or other rocky [[planet]]s or [[asteroid]]s. Breccia of this type may be present on or beneath the floor of the crater, in the rim, or in the [[ejecta]] expelled beyond the crater.

Impact breccia may be identified by its occurrence in or around a known impact crater, and/or an association with other products of impact cratering such as [[shatter cone]]s, impact glass, [[Shocked quartz|shocked minerals]], and chemical and [[Isotope|isotopic]] evidence of contamination with extraterrestrial material (e.g., [[Iridium anomaly|iridium]] and [[osmium]] anomalies). An example of an impact breccia is the [[Neugrund breccia]], which was formed in the [[Neugrund crater|Neugrund impact]].

===Hydrothermal===
[[File:Hydrothermal Breccia.jpg|thumb|left|Hydrothermal breccia in the Cloghleagh Iron Mine, near Blessington in Ireland, composed mainly of [[quartz]] and [[psilomelane|manganese oxides]], the result of [[seismic]] activity about 12 million years ago]]
{{Main|Ore genesis#Hydrothermal processes}}
Hydrothermal breccias usually form at shallow [[Crust (geology)|crustal]] levels (<1&nbsp;km) between 150 and 350&nbsp;°C, when seismic or volcanic activity causes a void to open along a fault deep underground. The void draws in hot water, and as pressure in the cavity drops, the water violently boils. In addition, the sudden opening of a cavity causes rock at the sides of the fault to destabilise and implode inwards, and the broken rock gets caught up in a churning mixture of rock, steam and boiling water. Rock fragments collide with each other and the sides of the void, and the angular fragments become more rounded. Volatile gases are lost to the steam [[Phase (matter)|phase]] as boiling continues, in particular [[carbon dioxide]]. As a result, the chemistry of the [[fluid]]s changes and [[ore]] minerals rapidly [[Precipitation (chemistry)|precipitate]]. Breccia-hosted [[ore]] deposits are quite common.<ref>{{cite journal|doi=10.1016/S0169-1368(97)00009-7 |author=Michel Jébrak |title=Hydrothermal breccias in vein-type ore deposits: A review of mechanisms, morphology and size distribution |journal=Ore Geology Reviews |volume=12 |pages = 111–134 |year=1997|issue=3|bibcode=1997OGRv...12..111J }}</ref>
[[File:PO-breccia.jpg|thumb|right|Silicified and mineralized breccia. Light gray is mostly [[Dolomite (rock)|dolomite]] with a little translucent quartz. Dark gray is [[jasperoid]] and [[ore mineral]]s. Veinlet along lower edge of specimen contains [[sphalerite]] in carbonates. Pend Oreille mine, [[Pend Oreille County, Washington]]]]

The morphology of breccias associated with ore deposits varies from tabular sheeted veins<ref name="SherlockEtal1995">{{cite journal |last1=Sherlock |first1=Ross L. |last2=Tosdal |first2=Richard M. |last3=Lehrman |first3=Norman J. |last4=Graney |first4=Joseph R. |last5=Losh |first5=Steven |last6=Jowett |first6=E. Craig |last7=Kesler |first7=Stephen E. |title=Origin of the McLaughlin Mine sheeted vein complex; metal zoning, fluid inclusion, and isotopic evidence |journal=Economic Geology |date=1 December 1995 |volume=90 |issue=8 |pages=2156–2181 |doi=10.2113/gsecongeo.90.8.2156|bibcode=1995EcGeo..90.2156S }}</ref> and [[clastic dike]]s associated with overpressured sedimentary strata,<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Yahata |first1=M. |last2=Kurosawa |first2=K. |last3=Ohtsu |first3=S. |last4=Takahashi |first4=T. |last5=Tomagae |first5=S. |last6=Kawamori |first6=H. |last7=Mori |first7=M. |title=Hydrothermal alteration and sedimentation at the formative period of a hot spring gold deposit |date=1994 |journal=Shigen-Chishitsu|volume=44 |doi=10.11456/shigenchishitsu1992.44.1}}</ref> to large-scale intrusive [[diatreme]] breccias ([[breccia pipe]]s),<ref name="NortonCathles1973">{{cite journal |last1=Norton |first1=Denis L. |last2=Cathles |first2=Lawrence M. |title=Breccia Pipes, Products of Exsolved Vapor from Magmas |journal=Economic Geology |date=1 July 1973 |volume=68 |issue=4 |pages=540–546 |doi=10.2113/gsecongeo.68.4.540|bibcode=1973EcGeo..68..540N }}</ref> or even some synsedimentary diatremes formed solely by the overpressure of pore fluid within [[sedimentary basin]]s.<ref name="CartwrightSantamarina2015">{{cite journal |last1=Cartwright |first1=Joe |last2=Santamarina |first2=Carlos |title=Seismic characteristics of fluid escape pipes in sedimentary basins: Implications for pipe genesis |journal=Marine and Petroleum Geology |date=August 2015 |volume=65 |pages=126–140 |doi=10.1016/j.marpetgeo.2015.03.023|bibcode=2015MarPG..65..126C }}</ref> Hydrothermal breccias are usually formed by [[hydrofracture|hydrofracturing]] of rocks by highly pressured [[hydrothermal]] fluids. They are typical of the [[epithermal]] ore environment and are intimately associated with intrusive-related ore deposits such as [[skarn]]s, [[greisen]]s and [[porphyry (geology)|porphyry]]-related mineralisation. Epithermal deposits are [[Mining|mined]] for copper, silver and gold.<ref name="Jebrak1997">{{cite journal |last1=Jébrak |first1=Michel |title=Hydrothermal breccias in vein-type ore deposits: A review of mechanisms, morphology and size distribution |journal=Ore Geology Reviews |date=December 1997 |volume=12 |issue=3 |pages=111–134 |doi=10.1016/S0169-1368(97)00009-7|bibcode=1997OGRv...12..111J }}</ref>

In the mesothermal regime, at much greater depths, fluids under [[lithostatic pressure]] can be released during seismic activity associated with mountain building. The pressurised fluids ascend towards shallower crustal levels that are under lower [[hydrostatic]] pressure. On their journey, high-pressure fluids crack rock by [[hydrofracture|hydrofracturing]], forming an angular ''in situ'' breccia. Rounding of rock fragments is less common in the mesothermal regime, as the formational event is brief. If boiling occurs, [[methane]] and [[hydrogen sulfide]] may be lost to the steam phase, and ore may precipitate. Mesothermal deposits are often mined for gold.<ref name="Jebrak1997"/>

==Ornamental uses==

[[File:Tawaret.jpg|right|thumb|100px|Breccia statue of the [[Ancient Egypt]]ian goddess [[Tawaret]]]]

For thousands of years, the striking visual appearance of breccias has made them a popular [[sculpture|sculptural]] and [[architecture|architectural]] material. Breccia was used for column bases in the [[Minoan civilization|Minoan]] [[Minoan palace|palace]] of [[Knossos]] on Crete in about 1800 [[Before Christ|BC]].<ref>C. Michael Hogan, [http://www.themodernantiquarian.com/site/10854/knossos.html#fieldnotes ''Knossos fieldnotes'', Modern Antiquarian (2007)]</ref> Breccia was used on a limited scale by the [[ancient Egypt]]ians; one of the best-known examples is the statue of the goddess [[Tawaret]] in the British Museum.<ref name="HendersonEtal2000">{{cite book |last1=Henderson |first1=Julian |last2=Morkot |first2=Robert |last3=Peltenberg |first3=E.J. |last4=Quirke |first4=Stephen |last5=Serpico |first5=Margaret |last6=Tait |first6=John |last7=White |first7=Raymond |title=Ancient Egyptian materials and technology |date=2000 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |location=Cambridge |isbn=9780521452571 |page=43 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=Vj7A9jJrZP0C&dq=tarawet+statue,+breccia&pg=PR21 |access-date=2 April 2022}}</ref> Breccia was regarded by the [[ancient Rome|Romans]] as an especially [[Gemstone|precious stone]] and was often used in high-profile public buildings.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Lazzarini |first1=Lorenzo |title=Six Coloured Types of Stone from Asia Minor Used by the Romans, and Their Specific Deterioration Problems |journal=Studies in Conservation |date=January 2010 |volume=55 |issue=sup2 |pages=140–146 |doi=10.1179/sic.2010.55.Supplement-2.140|s2cid=194088642 }}</ref> Many types of [[marble]] are brecciated, such as Breccia Oniciata.<ref>{{cite journal |last1=Górny |first1=Zbigniew |title=Selected examples of natural stones from Italy and Germany used in architectural objects in Krakow – a short geological excursion |journal=Geotourism/Geoturystyka |date=2009 |volume=16-17 |issue=1 |pages=61 |doi=10.7494/geotour.2009.16-17.61|doi-access=free }}</ref>

==See also==
* {{Annotated link|Crackle breccia}}
* {{Annotated link|Dallasite}}
* {{Annotated link|Impact crater}}
* {{Annotated link|Hydrothermal|Hydrothermal circulation}}
* {{Annotated link|Vein (geology)}}
* {{Annotated link|Kimberlite}}
* {{Annotated link|Regolith}}

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==Further reading==
{{Commons category|Breccia}}
{{EB1911 poster|Breccia}}
*{{cite journal
 | last = Sibson | first = R.H. | title = Earthquake rupturing as a mineralizing agent in hydrothermal systems| journal = Geology | volume = 15 | pages = 701–704 | year = 1987 | doi = 10.1130/0091-7613(1987)15<701:ERAAMA>2.0.CO;2
 | issn = 0091-7613
 | issue = 8|bibcode = 1987Geo....15..701S }}

*{{cite journal
 | last = Sibson | first = R.H. |title = Fluid involvement in normal faulting
 | journal = Journal of Geodynamics | volume = 29 | pages = 469–499 | year = 2000  | doi=10.1016/S0264-3707(99)00042-3
 | issue = 3–5|bibcode = 2000JGeo...29..469S }}
{{Rock type}}
{{Authority control}}

[[Category:Breccias| ]]

[[it:Rocce sedimentarie clastiche#Brecce]]
[[ja:礫岩#角礫岩]]