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Dacite vs Variolite


Variolite vs Dacite


Definition

Definition
Dacite is a volcanic igneous rock which is rintermediate in composition between andesite and rhyolite  
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance  

History
  
  

Origin
Romania and Moldova, Europe  
France  

Discoverer
Unknown  
Unknown  

Etymology
From Dacia, a province of the Roman Empire which lay between the Danube River and Carpathian Mountains where the rock was first described  
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated  

Class
Igneous Rocks  
Igneous Rocks  

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock  

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic  
Volcanic  

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

Texture

Texture
Aphanitic to Porphyritic  
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular  

Color
Bluish - Grey, Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey  
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
No  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
No  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
No  
No  

Wind Resistant
No  
No  

Acid Resistant
No  
Yes  

Appearance
Vesicular  
Dull and Soft  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration  
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens  

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration  
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings  

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing  
Curbing  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping  
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork  
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork  

Types

Types
Footwall Dacite, Hanging wall Dacite, Tuff and Biotite Dacite  
Metamorphic rock  

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock  
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock  

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
-  

Sculpture
-  
-  

Famous Sculptures
-  
-  

Pictographs
-  
-  

Petroglyphs
-  
-  

Figurines
-  
-  

Fossils
Absent  
Absent  

Formation

Formation
Dacitic magma is formed by the subduction of young oceanic crust under a thick felsic continental plate. Further, the Oceanic crust is hydrothermally altered as quartz and sodium are added.   
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks that exhibit pale colored spots on weathered surfaces that give them a pockmarked appearance.  

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon  
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene  

Compound Content
Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide  

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes  
Yes  

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

Weathering
Yes  
Yes  

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

Erosion
Yes  
No  

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion  
-  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
2-2.25  
6  

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained  
-  

Fracture
Conchoidal  
Conchoidal  

Streak
White  
White to Grey  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull  
-  

Compressive Strength
70.00 N/mm2  
35
37.50 N/mm2  
99+

Cleavage
Perfect  
-  

Toughness
-  
2.3  

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87  
2.8-3  

Transparency
Translucent  
Opaque  

Density
2.77-2.771 g/cm3  
2.9-3.1 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

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

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
-  
India, Russia  

Africa
-  
South Africa  

Europe
France, Greece, Romania, Scotland, Spain  
Iceland  

Others
-  
-  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA  
Canada, USA  

South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela  
Brazil  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia  
-  

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Dacite vs Variolite 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 Dacite and Variolite Reserves. Dacite is a volcanic igneous rock which is rintermediate in composition between andesite and rhyolite. Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance. 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 Dacite vs Variolite information and Dacite vs Variolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Dacite vs Variolite 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. Dacite vs Variolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Dacite and Properties of Variolite. Learn more about Dacite vs Variolite in the next section. The interior uses of Dacite include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Variolite include Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Dacite and Variolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Dacite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping and that of Variolite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.

More about Dacite and Variolite

Here you can know more about Dacite and Variolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Dacite and Variolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Dacite includes Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon and mineral content of Variolite includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Dacite vs Variolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Dacite is available in bluish - grey, brown, grey, light to dark grey colors whereas, Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Dacite is Vesicular and that of Variolite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Dacite vs Variolite. The hardness of Dacite is 2-2.25 and that of Variolite is 6. The types of Dacite are Footwall Dacite, Hanging wall Dacite, Tuff and Biotite Dacite whereas types of Variolite are Metamorphic rock. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Dacite is white while that of Variolite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Dacite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Variolite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Dacite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Variolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.

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