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Boninite vs Variolite


Variolite vs Boninite


Definition

Definition
Boninite is a mafic extrusive rock which is high in magnesium and silica content, formed in fore-arc environments, typically during the early stages of subduction  
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance  

History
  
  

Origin
Japan  
France  

Discoverer
Unknown  
Unknown  

Etymology
From its occurrence in the Izu-Bonin arc south of Japan  
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated  

Class
Igneous Rocks  
Igneous Rocks  

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock  

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic  
Volcanic  

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  
Opaque Rock  

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic  
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular  

Color
Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey  
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
No  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
Yes  
No  

Wind Resistant
Yes  
No  

Acid Resistant
No  
Yes  

Appearance
Dull and Soft  
Dull and Soft  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Kitchens  
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens  

Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings  
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings  

Other Architectural Uses
-  
Curbing  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories  
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)  
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork  

Types

Types
Basalt  
Metamorphic rock  

Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, High Mg content, Is one of the oldest rock  
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock  

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
-  

Sculpture
-  
-  

Famous Sculptures
-  
-  

Pictographs
-  
-  

Petroglyphs
-  
-  

Figurines
-  
-  

Fossils
Absent  
Absent  

Formation

Formation
Boninite is a type of Igneous rock which is formed through the cooling and solidification of lava or existing rocks.  
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks that exhibit pale colored spots on weathered surfaces that give them a pockmarked appearance.  

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite  
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene  

Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide  

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes  
Yes  

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism  

Weathering
Yes  
Yes  

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

Erosion
Yes  
No  

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion  
-  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
7  
6  

Grain Size
Fine Grained  
-  

Fracture
Uneven  
Conchoidal  

Streak
White  
White to Grey  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Vitreous  
-  

Compressive Strength
150.00 N/mm2  
22
37.50 N/mm2  
99+

Cleavage
-  
-  

Toughness
1.1  
2.3  

Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8  
2.8-3  

Transparency
Opaque  
Opaque  

Density
-9999 g/cm3  
2.9-3.1 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

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

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
-  
India, Russia  

Africa
South Africa  
South Africa  

Europe
England, Finland, United Kingdom  
Iceland  

Others
Antarctica, Greenland  
-  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA  
Canada, USA  

South America
Colombia, Uruguay  
Brazil  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia  
-  

Definition >>
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Boninite vs Variolite 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 Boninite and Variolite Reserves. Boninite is a mafic extrusive rock which is high in magnesium and silica content, formed in fore-arc environments, typically during the early stages of subduction. Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance. 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 Boninite vs Variolite information and Boninite vs Variolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Boninite vs Variolite 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. Boninite vs Variolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Boninite and Properties of Variolite. Learn more about Boninite vs Variolite in the next section. The interior uses of Boninite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Kitchens whereas the interior uses of Variolite include Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Boninite and Variolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Boninite in construction industry include As a flux in the production of steel and pig iron, As a sintering agent in steel industry to process iron ore, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories and that of Variolite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.

More about Boninite and Variolite

Here you can know more about Boninite and Variolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Boninite and Variolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Boninite includes Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite and mineral content of Variolite includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Boninite vs Variolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Boninite is available in bluish - grey, brown, green, grey colors whereas, Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Boninite is Dull and Soft and that of Variolite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Boninite vs Variolite. The hardness of Boninite is 7 and that of Variolite is 6. The types of Boninite are Basalt whereas types of Variolite are Metamorphic rock. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Boninite is white while that of Variolite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Boninite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Variolite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Boninite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Variolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.

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