Definition
Dolomite is a sedimentary rock containing more than 50 percent of the mineral dolomite by weight
  
Novaculite is a dense, hard, fine-grained, siliceous metamorpic rock which is a type of chert that breaks with conchoidal fracture
  
History
  
  
Origin
Southern Alps, France
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Dolomieu
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From French, from the name of Dolomieu (1750–1801), the French geologist who discovered the rock
  
From Latin word novacula, for razor stone
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy
  
Banded, Glassy, Rough, Vitreous
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Glassy or Pearly
  
Glassy or Pearly
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration
  
Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Serves as an Oil and Gas Reservoir rock
  
Arrowheads, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Knives, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone, Spear Points, Used to sharpen metal tools and weapons
  
Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts, Monuments
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Cemetery Markers, Gemstone, In aquifers, In fire-starting tools, Jewelry, Manufacture of tools, Pebbles are used in ball mills to grind in ceramics industry, To determine the gold content of jewelry
  
Types
Boninite and Jasperoid
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Traps for subsurface fluids like Oil and Natural Gas., Zinc and Copper Deposits
  
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Present
  
Formation
Dolomite rocks are originally deposited as calcite or aragonite rich limestone, but during diagenesis process, the calcite or aragonite is transformed into dolomite.
  
Novaculite forms when microcrystals of silicon dioxide grow within soft sediments that become limestone or chalk. The formation of Novaculite can be either of chemical or biological origin.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Clay Minerals, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfides
  
Quartz, Silicon
  
Compound Content
NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO
  
Ca, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
No
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
3.5-4
  
7
  
Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
Colorless
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Vitreous and Pearly
  
Waxy and Dull
  
Compressive Strength
140.00 N/mm2
  
15
450.00 N/mm2
  
1
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Non-Existent
  
Toughness
1
  
1.5
  
Specific Gravity
2.8-3
  
2.5-2.7
  
Transparency
Transparent to Translucent
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
2.7 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
0.74 kJ/Kg K
  
19
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India
  
China, India, Iran, Japan, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
  
Africa
Morocco, Namibia
  
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
Austria, Italy, Romania, Spain, Switzerland
  
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Mexico, USA
  
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
South America
Brazil, Colombia
  
Bolivia, Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, Queensland, Yorke Peninsula
  
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
All about Dolomite and Novaculite Properties
Know all about Dolomite and Novaculite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Dolomite and Novaculite belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Dolomite is Earthy whereas that of Novaculite is Banded, Glassy, Rough, Vitreous. Dolomite appears Glassy or Pearly and Novaculite appears Glassy or Pearly. The luster of Dolomite is vitreous and pearly while that of Novaculite is waxy and dull. Dolomite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Novaculite is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Dolomite are an oil and gas reservoir, as a feed additive for livestock, gemstone, metallurgical flux, production of lime, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Novaculite are cemetery markers, gemstone, in aquifers, in fire-starting tools, jewelry, manufacture of tools, pebbles are used in ball mills to grind in ceramics industry, to determine the gold content of jewelry.