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Granite vs Soapstone

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1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Granite is a very hard, granular, crystalline igneous rock which consists mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar and is often used as building stone
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
Unknown
USA
1.2.2 Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
1.3 Etymology
From Italian granito, which means grained rock, from grano grain, and from Latin granum
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap
1.4 Class
Igneous Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
Plutonic
Not Applicable
1.6 Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Granular, Phaneritic
Polished
2.2 Color
Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey
2.3 Maintenance
More
Less
2.4 Durability
Durable
Durable
2.4.1 Water Resistant
81% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
81% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
86% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
65% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
66% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
42% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
49% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
19% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
48% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
15% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
2.5 Appearance
Veined or Pebbled
Dull, Banded and Foilated
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Bridges, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Near Swimming Pools, Office Buildings, Resorts
As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
Curling, Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones, Used in aquariums
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
4 Types
4.1 Types
Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite, Hybrid Granite, Granodiorite and Alkali Feldspar Granite
Not Available
4.2 Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock
Host Rock for Lead
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
Used
Used
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Agia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, Blue Domed Church in Santorini, Greece, Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Charminar in Hyderabad, India, Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London, UK, Ephesus in Turkey, Georgia Guidestones in Georgia, US, Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Khajuraho Temples, India, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, India, Mysore Palace in Karnataka, India, Signers Monument in Augusta, Georgia, Statue of Liberty in New York, USA, Taj Mahal in Agra, India, Tower Bridge in London, Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, US, Washington Monument, US
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
4.3.3 Sculpture
Used
Used
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Avukana Buddha Statue in Sri Lanka, Lincoln Memorial in America, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, US, The Colossal Red Granite Statue of Amenhotep III in Karnak, Egypt
Data Not Available
4.3.5 Pictographs
Not Used
Used
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
Not Used
Used
4.3.7 Figurines
Used
Used
4.4 Fossils
Absent
Absent
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
Granite is an intrusive igneous rock which is very hard, crystalline and is visibly homogeneous in texture and forms by melting of continental rocks
Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock and it is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich inmagnesium.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
5.2.2 Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
CaO, Mg, MgO
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
97% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
50% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
99% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
65% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering
Not Applicable
5.3.5 Erosion
92% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !
77% Metamorphic Rocks Rocks have it !
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion
Not Applicable
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6-7
1
6.1.2 Grain Size
Large and Coarse Grained
Fine Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
Not Available
Conchoidal
6.1.4 Streak
White
Black
6.1.5 Porosity
Less Porous
Less Porous
6.1.6 Luster
Dull to Grainy with Sporadic parts Pearly and Vitreous
Greasy
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
Flint
175.00 N/mm2
Rank: 13 (Overall)
225.00 N/mm2
Rank: 7 (Overall)
Obsidian
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6.1.8 Cleavage
Not Available
Perfect
6.1.9 Toughness
Not Available
1
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7
2.86
6.1.11 Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
6.1.12 Density
2.65-2.75 g/cm3
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
Banded iron for..
0.79 kJ/Kg K
Rank: 16 (Overall)
0.88 kJ/Kg K
Rank: 13 (Overall)
Granulite
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6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand
7.1.2 Africa
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
7.1.3 Europe
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Venezuela
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
7.1.4 Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
Canada, USA
Canada, USA
7.2.2 South America
Not Yet Found
Colombia
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
Not Yet Found
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland

Granite vs Soapstone Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Granite and Soapstone Reserves. Granite is a very hard, granular, crystalline igneous rock which consists mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar and is often used as building stone. It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Granite vs Soapstone information and Granite vs Soapstone characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Granite vs Soapstone Characteristics

Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Granite vs Soapstone characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Granite and Properties of Soapstone. Learn more about Granite vs Soapstone in the next section. The interior uses of Granite include Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior decoration, Kitchens and Stair treads whereas the interior uses of Soapstone include Bathrooms, Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Granite and Soapstone, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Granite in construction industry include As dimension stone and that of Soapstone include Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories.

More about Granite and Soapstone

Here you can know more about Granite and Soapstone. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Granite and Soapstone consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Granite includes Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz and mineral content of Soapstone includes Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Granite vs Soapstone, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Granite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors whereas, Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors. Appearance of Granite is Veined or Pebbled and that of Soapstone is Dull, Banded and Foilated. Properties of rock is another aspect for Granite vs Soapstone. The hardness of Granite is 6-7 and that of Soapstone is 1. The types of Granite are Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite, Hybrid Granite, Granodiorite and Alkali Feldspar Granite whereas types of Soapstone are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Granite is white while that of Soapstone is black. The specific heat capacity of Granite is 0.79 kJ/Kg K and that of Soapstone is 0.88 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Granite is heat resistant, wear resistant whereas Soapstone is heat resistant, pressure resistant.

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