Home
Compare Rocks


Cataclasite vs Soapstone


Soapstone 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  
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc  

History
  
  

Origin
Swiss Alps, Europe  
USA  

Discoverer
Michael Tellinger  
Unknown  

Etymology
From the Italian word cataclasi  
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap  

Class
Metamorphic Rocks  
Metamorphic Rocks  

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

Family
  
  

Group
-  
-  

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

Texture

Texture
Clastic  
Polished  

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

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
No  
No  

Stain Resistant
No  
No  

Wind Resistant
No  
No  

Acid Resistant
No  
No  

Appearance
Dull and Banded  
Dull, Banded and Foilated  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes  
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration  

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving 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  
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories  

Medical Industry
-  
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork  
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)  

Types

Types
Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite  
Metamorphic rock  

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

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire  

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.  
Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock and it is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich inmagnesium.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz  
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz  

Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide  
CaO, Mg, MgO  

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No  
Yes  

Types of Metamorphism
-  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional 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  
1  

Grain Size
Fine Grained  
Fine Grained  

Fracture
-  
Conchoidal  

Streak
Black  
Black  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Vitreous  
Greasy  

Compressive Strength
50.00 N/mm2  
39
225.00 N/mm2  
8

Cleavage
-  
Perfect  

Toughness
-  
1  

Specific Gravity
2.1  
2.86  

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque  
Opaque  

Density
2.9-3.1 g/cm3  
2.8-2.9 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K  
15
0.88 kJ/Kg K  
13

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea  
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand  

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

Europe
England, Finland, France, Spain, United Kingdom  
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom  

Others
-  
-  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA  
Canada, USA  

South America
Argentina, Colombia  
Colombia  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia  
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland  

Definition >>
<< All

Cataclasite vs Soapstone 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 Soapstone 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. It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc. 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 Soapstone information and Cataclasite vs Soapstone characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Compare Metamorphic Rocks

Cataclasite vs Soapstone 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 Soapstone characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Cataclasite and Properties of Soapstone. Learn more about Cataclasite vs Soapstone in the next section. The interior uses of Cataclasite include Decorative aggregates and Homes whereas the interior uses of Soapstone include Bathrooms, Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Cataclasite and Soapstone, 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 Soapstone include Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories.

More about Cataclasite and Soapstone

Here you can know more about Cataclasite and Soapstone. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Cataclasite and Soapstone 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 Soapstone includes Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Cataclasite vs Soapstone, 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, Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors. Appearance of Cataclasite is Dull and Banded and that of Soapstone is Dull, Banded and Foilated. Properties of rock is another aspect for Cataclasite vs Soapstone. The hardness of Cataclasite is 3-4 and that of Soapstone is 1. The types of Cataclasite are Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite whereas types of Soapstone are Metamorphic rock. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Cataclasite and Soapstone is black. The specific heat capacity of Cataclasite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Soapstone is 0.88 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 Soapstone is heat resistant, pressure resistant.

Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

» More Metamorphic Rocks

Compare Metamorphic Rocks

» More Compare Metamorphic Rocks