Dunite and Cataclasite

Dunite

Cataclasite

Definition

Dunite is a green to brownish coarse-grained igneous rock mainly consisting of olivine

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

History

Origin

New Zealand

Swiss Alps, Europe

Discoverer

Ferdinand von Hochstetter

Michael Tellinger

Etymology

From the name of Dun Mountain, New Zealand, + -ite1

From the Italian word cataclasi

Class

Igneous Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Phaneritic

Clastic

Color

Dark Greenish - Grey

Brown, Green, White, Yellow

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Rough and Shiny

Dull and Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Source of Chromite, Platinum, Nickel and Garnet, Source of Diamonds

Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Not Available

Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite

Features

Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock

Easily splits into thin plates, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Dunite is a plutonic ultramafic igneous rock consisting almost m olivine. It can be formed in two ways.

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.

Composition

Mineral Content

Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

Ca, CaO, Fe, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium, Titanium Dioxide

Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

3.5-4

3-4

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Irregular

Streak

White

Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Shiny

Vitreous

Compressive Strength

107.55 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Imperfect

Not Available

Toughness

2.1

Not Available

Specific Gravity

3-3.01

2.1

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.84-2.85 g/cm³

2.9-3.1 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

1.25 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey

China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea

Africa

Morocco, South Africa

Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa

Europe

Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela

England, Finland, France, Spain, United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

South America

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela

Argentina, Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Dunite and Cataclasite Properties

Know all about Dunite and Cataclasite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Dunite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Cataclasite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Dunite is Phaneritic whereas that of Cataclasite is Clastic. Dunite appears Rough and Shiny and Cataclasite appears Dull and Banded. The luster of Dunite is shiny while that of Cataclasite is vitreous. Dunite is available in dark greenish - grey colors whereas Cataclasite is available in brown, green, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Dunite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, source of chromite, platinum, nickel and garnet, source of diamonds and that of Cataclasite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork.