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Cataclasite vs Obsidian


Obsidian vs Cataclasite


Definition

Definition
Cataclasite is a type of cataclastic rock that is formed by fracturing and comminution during faulting. It is normally cohesive and non-foliated, consisting of angular clasts in a finer-grained matrix  
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth  

History
  
  

Origin
Swiss Alps, Europe  
Ethiopia  

Discoverer
Michael Tellinger  
Obsius  

Etymology
From the Italian word cataclasi  
From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius  

Class
Metamorphic Rocks  
Igneous Rocks  

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

Family
  
  

Group
-  
Volcanic  

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  
Opaque Rock  

Texture

Texture
Clastic  
Glassy  

Color
Brown, Green, White, Yellow  
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
No  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
No  
No  

Wind Resistant
No  
No  

Acid Resistant
No  
No  

Appearance
Dull and Banded  
Shiny  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes  
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration  

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing  
-  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate  
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points  

Medical Industry
-  
Surgery  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts  
Artifacts, Jewellery  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork  
Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums  

Types

Types
Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite  
Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian  

Features
Easily splits into thin plates, Is one of the oldest rock  
Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression  

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
-  

Sculpture
-  
-  

Famous Sculptures
-  
-  

Pictographs
-  
-  

Petroglyphs
-  
-  

Figurines
-  
-  

Fossils
Absent  
Absent  

Formation

Formation
Cataclasiste rocks mainly form by pressure deep under the Earth's surface, from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.  
When the lava is released from volcano, it undergoes a very rapid cooling which freezes the mechanisms of crystallization. The result is a volcanic glass with a uniform smooth texture.  

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz  
-  

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
No  
Yes  

Types of Metamorphism
-  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism  

Weathering
Yes  
Yes  

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

Erosion
Yes  
Yes  

Types of Erosion
Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3-4  
5-5.5  

Grain Size
Fine Grained  
-  

Fracture
-  
Conchoidal  

Streak
Black  
White  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Very Less Porous  

Luster
Vitreous  
Vitreous  

Compressive Strength
50.00 N/mm2  
39
0.15 N/mm2  
99+

Cleavage
-  
-  

Toughness
-  
-  

Specific Gravity
2.1  
2.6-2.7  

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque  
Translucent  

Density
2.9-3.1 g/cm3  
2.6 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K  
15
0.92 kJ/Kg K  
10

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea  
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia  

Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa  
Kenya  

Europe
England, Finland, France, Spain, United Kingdom  
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey  

Others
-  
-  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA  
Canada, Mexico, USA  

South America
Argentina, Colombia  
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia  
New Zealand  

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Cataclasite vs Obsidian 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 Cataclasite and Obsidian Reserves. Cataclasite is a type of cataclastic rock that is formed by fracturing and comminution during faulting. It is normally cohesive and non-foliated, consisting of angular clasts in a finer-grained matrix. Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth. 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 Cataclasite vs Obsidian information and Cataclasite vs Obsidian characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Cataclasite vs Obsidian 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. Cataclasite vs Obsidian characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Cataclasite and Properties of Obsidian. Learn more about Cataclasite vs Obsidian in the next section. The interior uses of Cataclasite include Decorative aggregates and Homes whereas the interior uses of Obsidian include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Cataclasite and Obsidian, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Cataclasite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Building houses or walls, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate and that of Obsidian include Arrowheads, Cutting tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear points.

More about Cataclasite and Obsidian

Here you can know more about Cataclasite and Obsidian. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Cataclasite and Obsidian consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Cataclasite includes Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz and mineral content of Obsidian includes . You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Cataclasite vs Obsidian, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Cataclasite is available in brown, green, white, yellow colors whereas, Obsidian is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors. Appearance of Cataclasite is Dull and Banded and that of Obsidian is Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Cataclasite vs Obsidian. The hardness of Cataclasite is 3-4 and that of Obsidian is 5-5.5. The types of Cataclasite are Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite whereas types of Obsidian are Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Cataclasite is black while that of Obsidian is white. The specific heat capacity of Cataclasite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Obsidian is 0.92 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Cataclasite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant whereas Obsidian is heat resistant, impact resistant.

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