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Cataclasite vs Pseudotachylite


Pseudotachylite 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  
Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.  

History
  
  

Origin
Swiss Alps, Europe  
USA  

Discoverer
Michael Tellinger  
Unknown  

Etymology
From the Italian word cataclasi  
From pseudo- +‎ tachylite, a glassy rock generated by frictional heat within faults.  

Class
Metamorphic Rocks  
Metamorphic Rocks  

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

Family
  
  

Group
-  
-  

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

Texture

Texture
Clastic  
Quench  

Color
Brown, Green, White, Yellow  
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Pink, White  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
No  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
No  
No  

Wind Resistant
No  
Yes  

Acid Resistant
No  
Yes  

Appearance
Dull and Banded  
Dull and Soft  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing  
Curbing  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts  
Artifacts, Monuments  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork  
Creating Artwork, Gemstone  

Types

Types
Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite  
Cataclastic rock  

Features
Easily splits into thin plates, Is one of the oldest rock  
Host Rock for Lead  

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.  
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Pseudotachylite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.  

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz  
Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides  

Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide  
Carbon Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur  

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No  
Yes  

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

Weathering
Yes  
No  

Types of Weathering
Mechanical Weathering  
-  

Erosion
Yes  
No  

Types of Erosion
Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion  
-  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3-4  
7  

Grain Size
Fine Grained  
Very fine-grained  

Fracture
-  
Uneven  

Streak
Black  
Light to dark brown  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Vitreous  
Vitreous  

Compressive Strength
50.00 N/mm2  
39
60.00 N/mm2  
37

Cleavage
-  
-  

Toughness
-  
-  

Specific Gravity
2.1  
2.46-2.86  

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque  
Transparent to Translucent  

Density
2.9-3.1 g/cm3  
2.7-2.9 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  

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea  
South Korea  

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

Europe
England, Finland, France, Spain, United Kingdom  
Great Britain, Switzerland  

Others
-  
-  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA  
-  

South America
Argentina, Colombia  
-  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia  
Central Australia, Western Australia  

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Cataclasite vs Pseudotachylite 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 Pseudotachylite 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. Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.. 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 Pseudotachylite information and Cataclasite vs Pseudotachylite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Cataclasite vs Pseudotachylite 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 Pseudotachylite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Cataclasite and Properties of Pseudotachylite. Learn more about Cataclasite vs Pseudotachylite in the next section. The interior uses of Cataclasite include Decorative aggregates and Homes whereas the interior uses of Pseudotachylite include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Cataclasite and Pseudotachylite, 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 Pseudotachylite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement.

More about Cataclasite and Pseudotachylite

Here you can know more about Cataclasite and Pseudotachylite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Cataclasite and Pseudotachylite 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 Pseudotachylite includes Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Cataclasite vs Pseudotachylite, 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, Pseudotachylite is available in black, brown, green, grey, pink, white colors. Appearance of Cataclasite is Dull and Banded and that of Pseudotachylite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Cataclasite vs Pseudotachylite. The hardness of Cataclasite is 3-4 and that of Pseudotachylite is 7. The types of Cataclasite are Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite whereas types of Pseudotachylite are Cataclastic rock. 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 Pseudotachylite is light to dark brown. The specific heat capacity of Cataclasite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Pseudotachylite 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 Pseudotachylite is heat resistant.

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