Basalt vs Peridotite 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. Basalt vs Peridotite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Basalt and Properties of Peridotite. Learn more about Basalt vs Peridotite in the next section. The interior uses of Basalt include Floor tiles, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens whereas the interior uses of Peridotite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Basalt and Peridotite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Basalt in construction industry include Arrowheads, As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Cutting tool, Rail track ballast, Roadstone and that of Peridotite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones.
More about Basalt and Peridotite
Here you can know more about Basalt and Peridotite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Basalt and Peridotite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Basalt includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene and mineral content of Peridotite 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 Basalt vs Peridotite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Basalt is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors whereas, Peridotite is available in dark greenish - grey colors. Appearance of Basalt is Dull and Soft and that of Peridotite is Rough and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Basalt vs Peridotite. The hardness of Basalt is 6 and that of Peridotite is 5.5-6. The types of Basalt are Alkaline Basalt, Boninite, High Alumina Basalt, Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB), Tholeiitic Basalt, Basaltic trachyandesite, Mugearite and Shoshonite whereas types of Peridotite are Dunite, Wehrlite, Harzburgite, Lherzolite and Pyrolite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Basalt is white to grey while that of Peridotite is white. The specific heat capacity of Basalt is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Peridotite is 1.26 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Basalt is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Peridotite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.