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Eclogite and Pyroxenite


Pyroxenite and Eclogite


Definition

Definition
Eclogite is an extreme metamorphic rock, formed by regional metamorphism of basalt rock under very high pressure and temperature   
Pyroxenite is a dark, greenish, granular intrusive igneous rock consisting mainly of pyroxenes and olivine   

History
  
  

Discoverer
René Just Haüy   
Unknown   

Etymology
From French, Greek eklogē selection with reference to the selective content of the rock + -ite1   
From pyro- fire + Greek xenos stranger as the mineral group was new to igneous rocks   

Class
Metamorphic Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Plutonic   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Earthy   
Clastic, Granular, Phaneritic, Porphyritic   

Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White   
Black to Grey, Bluish - Grey, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Light Greenish Grey   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated   
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration, Kitchens   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Not Yet Used   
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   

Medical Industry
In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Medicines and Cosmetics   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone   
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Clinopyroxenites, Orthopyroxenites and Websterites   

Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock   
Generally rough to touch, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Pictographs
Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Eclogite forms from high-pressure metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks mainly, basalt or gabbro as it plunges into the mantle in a subduction zone.   
Pyroxenites are ultramafic igneous rocks which are made up of minerals of the pyroxene group, such as augite and diopside, hypersthene, bronzite or enstatite.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Coesite, Corundum, Dolomite, Garnet, Kyanite, Lawsonite, Paragonite, Phengite, Pyroxene, Quartz, Rutile, Zoisite   
Amphibole, Augite, Bronzite, Chromite, Diopside, Enstatite, Garnet, Hornblende, Hypersthene, Magnetite, Pyroxene   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Potassium, Sodium   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable   
Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

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

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3.5-4   
7   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Not Available   
Uneven   

Streak
White   
White, Greenish White or Grey   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Dull to Vitreous to Submetallic   

Cleavage
Perfect   
Irregular   

Toughness
Not Available   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87   
3.2-3.5   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
3.2-3.6 g/cm3   
3.1-3.6 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Resistance
Heat Resistant   
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey   
India, Russia   

Africa
Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa   
South Africa   

Europe
France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Scotland   
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey   

Others
Greenland   
Greenland   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador   
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland   
New Zealand, Queensland   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Eclogite and Pyroxenite Properties

Know all about Eclogite and Pyroxenite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Eclogite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Pyroxenite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Eclogite is Earthy whereas that of Pyroxenite is Clastic, Granular, Phaneritic, Porphyritic. Eclogite appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Pyroxenite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Eclogite is subvitreous to dull while that of Pyroxenite is dull to vitreous to submetallic. Eclogite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Pyroxenite is available in black to grey, bluish - grey, dark greenish - grey, green, light greenish grey colors. The commercial uses of Eclogite are creating artwork, gemstone and that of Pyroxenite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones.

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