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Anorthosite vs Lherzolite


Lherzolite vs Anorthosite


Definition

Definition
Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase   
Lherzolite is a type of ultramafic igneous rock which contains essential olivine and clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene in equal proportions   

History
  
  

Origin
Unknown   
France   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1   
From the Lherz Massif, an alpine peridotite complex, at Étang de Lers, near Massat in the French Pyrenees; Lherz is the archaic spelling of this location   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Plutonic   

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Foliated, Glassy   
Grenue   

Color
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White   
Black, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Pink, Purple   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
No   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny   
Glassy, Vesicular and Foilated   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Homes, Interior Decoration   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration   
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings   

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate   
Landscaping, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines   
Artifacts, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Curling   
As armour rock for sea walls, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Used in aquariums   

Types

Types
Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite   
Garnet Lherzolite   

Features
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock   
Host Rock for Lead   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

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.   
Lherzolite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene   
Harzburgite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite   

Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO, Sulfur Trioxide   
CaO, Cr, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism   
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5-6   
6.5   

Grain Size
Coarse Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Irregular   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Pearly to Subvitreous   
Subvitreous to Dull   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
290.00 N/mm2   
3

Cleavage
Irregular   
Perfect   

Toughness
Not Available   
2.7   

Specific Gravity
2.62-2.82   
2.86   

Transparency
Translucent   
Opaque   

Density
2.7-4 g/cm3   
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K   
15
0.95 kJ/Kg K   
9

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Not Yet Found   
Russia, South Korea   

Africa
Not Yet Found   
Western Africa   

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

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada   
USA   

South America
Bolivia, Colombia   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia   
Central Australia, Western Australia   

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Anorthosite vs Lherzolite 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 Lherzolite Reserves. Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase. Lherzolite is a type of ultramafic igneous rock which contains essential olivine and clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene in equal proportions. 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 Lherzolite information and Anorthosite vs Lherzolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Anorthosite vs Lherzolite 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 Lherzolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Anorthosite and Properties of Lherzolite. Learn more about Anorthosite vs Lherzolite in the next section. The interior uses of Anorthosite include Decorative aggregates, Floor tiles, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Lherzolite include Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Anorthosite and Lherzolite, 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 Lherzolite include Landscaping, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills..

More about Anorthosite and Lherzolite

Here you can know more about Anorthosite and Lherzolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Anorthosite and Lherzolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Anorthosite includes Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene and mineral content of Lherzolite includes Harzburgite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Anorthosite vs Lherzolite, 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, Lherzolite is available in black, dark greenish - grey, green, pink, purple colors. Appearance of Anorthosite is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and that of Lherzolite is Glassy, Vesicular and Foilated. Properties of rock is another aspect for Anorthosite vs Lherzolite. The hardness of Anorthosite is 5-6 and that of Lherzolite is 6.5. The types of Anorthosite are Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite whereas types of Lherzolite are Garnet Lherzolite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Anorthosite and Lherzolite is white. The specific heat capacity of Anorthosite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Lherzolite is 0.95 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 Lherzolite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.

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