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
Wehrlite is an ultramafic and ultrabasic rock that is a mixture of olivine and clinopyroxene. It is a subdivision of the peridotites
Origin
Swiss Alps, Europe
Egypt
Discoverer
Michael Tellinger
Alois Wehrle
Etymology
From the Italian word cataclasi
From the name of a professor, Alois Wehrle
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
Igneous Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Color
Brown, Green, White, Yellow
Dark Greenish - Grey, Green
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Dull and Banded
Rough and Banded
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry
Types
Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite
Ultramafic rock
Features
Easily splits into thin plates, Is one of the oldest rock
Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
Archaeological Significance
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.
Wehrlite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.
Mineral Content
Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz
Pyroxene
Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Types of Metamorphism
-
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Types of Weathering
Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Coarse Grained
Porosity
Less Porous
Less Porous
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.9-3.1 g/cm3
2.6-3.7 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey
Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa
Morocco, South Africa
Europe
England, Finland, France, Spain, United Kingdom
Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada, USA
South America
Argentina, Colombia
Brazil
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia
Cataclasite vs Wehrlite 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 Wehrlite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Cataclasite and Properties of Wehrlite. Learn more about Cataclasite vs Wehrlite in the next section. The interior uses of Cataclasite include Decorative aggregates and Homes whereas the interior uses of Wehrlite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Cataclasite and Wehrlite, 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 Wehrlite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones.
More about Cataclasite and Wehrlite
Here you can know more about Cataclasite and Wehrlite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Cataclasite and Wehrlite 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 Wehrlite includes Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Cataclasite vs Wehrlite, 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, Wehrlite is available in dark greenish - grey, green colors. Appearance of Cataclasite is Dull and Banded and that of Wehrlite is Rough and Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Cataclasite vs Wehrlite. The hardness of Cataclasite is 3-4 and that of Wehrlite is 5.5-6. The types of Cataclasite are Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite whereas types of Wehrlite are Ultramafic 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 Wehrlite is white. The specific heat capacity of Cataclasite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Wehrlite is 0.63 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 Wehrlite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.