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Dolomite
Dolomite

Variolite
Variolite



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Dolomite vs Variolite

Definition

Definition

Dolomite is a sedimentary rock containing more than 50 percent of the mineral dolomite by weight
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

Southern Alps, France
France

Discoverer

Dolomieu
Unknown

Etymology

From French, from the name of Dolomieu (1750–1801), the French geologist who discovered the rock
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated

Class

Sedimentary Rocks
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

-
Volcanic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture

Earthy
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular

Color

Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Pink, White
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey

Maintenance

Less
Less

Durability

Durable
Durable

Water Resistant

Scratch Resistant

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Glassy or Pearly
Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

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

Exterior Uses

Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

-
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
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
-

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

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, Creating Artwork

Types

Types

Boninite and Jasperoid
Metamorphic rock

Features

Host Rock for Lead, Traps for subsurface fluids like Oil and Natural Gas., Zinc and Copper Deposits
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

-
-

Famous Monuments

-
-

Sculpture

-
-

Famous Sculptures

-
-

Pictographs

-
-

Petroglyphs

-
-

Figurines

-
-

Fossils

Present
Absent

Formation

Formation

Dolomite rocks are originally deposited as calcite or aragonite rich limestone, but during diagenesis process, the calcite or aragonite is transformed into dolomite.
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

Clay Minerals, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfides
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism

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

Weathering

Types of Weathering

-
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Types of Erosion

-
-

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

3.5-46
1 7
👆🏻

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
-

Fracture

Conchoidal
Conchoidal

Streak

White
White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous
Less Porous

Luster

Vitreous and Pearly
-

Compressive Strength

140.00 N/mm237.50 N/mm2
0.15 450
👆🏻

Cleavage

Perfect
-

Toughness

1
2.3

Specific Gravity

2.8-32.8-3
0 8.4
👆🏻

Transparency

Transparent to Translucent
Opaque

Density

2.8-2.9 g/cm32.9-3.1 g/cm3
0 1400
👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K
0.14 3.2
👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India
India, Russia

Africa

Morocco, Namibia
South Africa

Europe

Austria, Italy, Romania, Spain, Switzerland
Iceland

Others

-
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Mexico, USA
Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia
Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, Yorke Peninsula
-

Dolomite 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 Dolomite and Variolite Reserves. Dolomite is a sedimentary rock containing more than 50 percent of the mineral dolomite by weight. 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 Dolomite vs Variolite information and Dolomite vs Variolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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

More about Dolomite and Variolite

Here you can know more about Dolomite and Variolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Dolomite and Variolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Dolomite includes Clay Minerals, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfides and mineral content of Variolite includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Dolomite vs Variolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Dolomite is available in black, brown, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas, Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Dolomite is Glassy or Pearly and that of Variolite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Dolomite vs Variolite. The hardness of Dolomite is 3.5-4 and that of Variolite is 6. The types of Dolomite are Boninite and Jasperoid 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 Dolomite is white while that of Variolite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Dolomite 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.Dolomite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Variolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.