Dunite and Metapelite

Dunite

Metapelite

Definition

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

Metapelite is an old and currently not widely used field geological term for a clay rich fine-grained clastic sediment or sedimentary rock, i.e. mud or a mudstone

History

Origin

New Zealand

Unknown

Discoverer

Ferdinand von Hochstetter

Unknown

Etymology

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

From Pelos or clay in Greek

Class

Igneous Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

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

Texture

Phaneritic

Foliated

Color

Dark Greenish - Grey

Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Light Green, Light Greenish Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Rough and Shiny

Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing 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

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

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, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest 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.

Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Metapelite is formed 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, Chlorite, Quartz

Compound Content

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

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, MgO

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

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

3.5-4

5-6

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Irregular

Fibrous

Streak

White

Unknown

Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Shiny

Earthy

Compressive Strength

107.55 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Imperfect

Not Available

Toughness

2.1

Not Available

Specific Gravity

3-3.01

3.4-3.7

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

2.84-2.85 g/cm³

0-300 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

1.25 kJ/Kg K

0.72 kJ/Kg K

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

Not Yet Found

Africa

Morocco, South Africa

Western Africa

Europe

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

United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

Not Available

South America

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Dunite and Metapelite Properties

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