Definition
Charnockite is a variety of granite containing minerals like orthopyroxene, quartz, and feldspar
Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.
Origin
Tamil Nadu, India
USA
Discoverer
T. H. Holland
Unknown
Etymology
From Job Charnock, an administtrator of East India Company
From pseudo- + tachylite, a glassy rock generated by frictional heat within faults.
Class
Igneous Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Color
Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Pink, White
Durability
Durable
Durable
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Veined or Pebbled
Dull and Soft
Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens, Stair Treads
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Bridges, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Resorts
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Artifacts, Monuments
Commercial Uses
Curling, Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones
Creating Artwork, Gemstone
Types
Enderbite
Cataclastic rock
Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock
Host Rock for Lead
Archaeological Significance
Formation
Charnockite is an intrusive igneous rock which is very hard and is formed due to weathering of existing rocks.
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.
Mineral Content
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Carbon Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering
-
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
-
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
Very fine-grained
Streak
White
Light to dark brown
Porosity
Very Less Porous
Less Porous
Specific Gravity
-9999
2.46-2.86
Transparency
Opaque
Transparent to Translucent
Density
2.6 g/cm3
2.7-2.9 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Africa
East Africa, Ethiopia, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique
Western Africa
Europe
Albania, Romania, Scotland, United Kingdom
Great Britain, Switzerland
Deposits in Western Continents
South America
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
-
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
All about Charnockite and Pseudotachylite Properties
Know all about Charnockite and Pseudotachylite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Charnockite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Pseudotachylite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Charnockite is Granular whereas that of Pseudotachylite is Quench. Charnockite appears Veined or Pebbled and Pseudotachylite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Charnockite is while that of Pseudotachylite is vitreous. Charnockite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors whereas Pseudotachylite is available in black, brown, green, grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Charnockite are curling, gemstone, laboratory bench tops, tombstones and that of Pseudotachylite are creating artwork, gemstone.