Anorthosite

Dunite

Anorthosite vs Dunite

Anorthosite

Dunite

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1 Definition

1.1 Definition

Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase

Dunite is a green to brownish coarse-grained igneous rock mainly consisting of olivine

1.2 History

1.2.1 Origin

Unknown

New Zealand

1.2.2 Discoverer

Unknown

Ferdinand von Hochstetter

1.3 Etymology

From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1

From the name of Dun Mountain, New Zealand, + -ite1

1.4 Class

Igneous Rocks

1.4.1 Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

1.5 Family

1.5.1 Group

Plutonic

1.6 Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

2 Texture

2.1 Texture

Foliated, Glassy

Phaneritic

2.2 Color

Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White

Dark Greenish - Grey

2.3 Maintenance

Less

2.4 Durability

Durable

2.4.1 Water Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.2 Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.3 Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.4 Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.5 Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

2.5 Appearance

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Rough and Shiny

3 Uses

3.1 Architecture

3.1.1 Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

3.1.2 Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

3.2 Industry

3.2.1 Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar

3.2.2 Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

3.3 Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

3.4 Other Uses

3.4.1 Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Curling

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Source of Chromite, Platinum, Nickel and Garnet, Source of Diamonds

4 Types

4.1 Types

Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite

Not Available

4.2 Features

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock

4.3 Archaeological Significance

4.3.1 Monuments

Not Yet Used

Used

4.3.2 Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

4.3.3 Sculpture

Used

4.3.4 Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

4.3.5 Pictographs

Not Used

Used

4.3.6 Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

4.3.7 Figurines

Used

4.4 Fossils

Absent

5 Formation

5.1 Formation

Anorthosite is a phaneritic, intrusive igneous rock which is characterized by a predominance of plagioclase feldspar which is almost 90–100%, and a minimal mafic component.

Dunite is a plutonic ultramafic igneous rock consisting almost m olivine. It can be formed in two ways.

5.2 Composition

5.2.1 Mineral Content

Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene

Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

5.2.2 Compound Content

Ca, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO, Sulfur Trioxide

Ca, CaO, Fe, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium, Titanium Dioxide

5.3 Transformation

5.3.1 Metamorphism

✔ ✘

5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism

Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

5.3.3 Weathering

✔ ✘

5.3.4 Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

5.3.5 Erosion

✔ ✘

5.3.6 Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion

6 Properties

6.1 Physical Properties

6.1.1 Hardness

5-63.5-4

1 7

6.1.2 Grain Size

Coarse Grained

6.1.3 Fracture

Irregular

6.1.4 Streak

White

6.1.5 Porosity

Less Porous

6.1.6 Luster

Pearly to Subvitreous

Shiny

6.1.7 Compressive Strength

NA107.55 N/mm²

0.15 450

6.1.8 Cleavage

Irregular

Imperfect

6.1.9 Toughness

Not Available

2.1

6.1.10 Specific Gravity

2.62-2.823-3.01

0 8.4

6.1.11 Transparency

Translucent

Translucent to Opaque

6.1.12 Density

2.7-4 g/cm³2.84-2.85 g/cm³

0 1400

6.2 Thermal Properties

6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity

0.84 kJ/Kg K1.25 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

6.2.2 Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

7 Reserves

7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents

7.1.1 Asia

Not Yet Found

China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey

7.1.2 Africa

Not Yet Found

Morocco, South Africa

7.1.3 Europe

Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Czech Republic

Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela

7.1.4 Others

Not Yet Found

7.2 Deposits in Western Continents

7.2.1 North America

Canada

Canada, USA

7.2.2 South America

Bolivia, Colombia

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela

7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent

7.3.1 Australia

Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

Anorthosite vs Dunite 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 Anorthosite and Dunite Reserves. Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase. Dunite is a green to brownish coarse-grained igneous rock mainly consisting of olivine. 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 Anorthosite vs Dunite information and Anorthosite vs Dunite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Anorthosite vs Dunite 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. Anorthosite vs Dunite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Anorthosite and Properties of Dunite. Learn more about Anorthosite vs Dunite in the next section. The interior uses of Anorthosite include Decorative aggregates, Floor tiles, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Dunite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Anorthosite and Dunite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Anorthosite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate and that of Dunite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar.

More about Anorthosite and Dunite

Here you can know more about Anorthosite and Dunite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Anorthosite and Dunite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Anorthosite includes Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene and mineral content of Dunite includes Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Anorthosite vs Dunite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Anorthosite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, green, grey, light greenish grey, pink, white colors whereas, Dunite is available in dark greenish - grey colors. Appearance of Anorthosite is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and that of Dunite is Rough and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Anorthosite vs Dunite. The hardness of Anorthosite is 5-6 and that of Dunite is 3.5-4. The types of Anorthosite are Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite whereas types of Dunite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Anorthosite and Dunite is white. The specific heat capacity of Anorthosite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Dunite is 1.25 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Anorthosite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, scratch resistant, wear resistant whereas Dunite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.