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Eclogite and Soapstone


Soapstone and Eclogite


Definition

Definition
Eclogite is an extreme metamorphic rock, formed by regional metamorphism of basalt rock under very high pressure and temperature  
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc  

History
  
  

Origin
Unknown  
USA  

Discoverer
René Just Haüy  
Unknown  

Etymology
From French, Greek eklogē selection with reference to the selective content of the rock + -ite1  
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap  

Class
Metamorphic Rocks  
Metamorphic Rocks  

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

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable  
Not Applicable  

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

Texture

Texture
Earthy  
Polished  

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Pink, White  
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
No  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
Yes  
No  

Stain Resistant
Yes  
No  

Wind Resistant
Yes  
No  

Acid Resistant
No  
No  

Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated  
Dull, Banded and Foilated  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration  
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration  

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing  
Curbing  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Not Available  
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories  

Medical Industry
In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Medicines and Cosmetics  
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone  
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)  

Types

Types
Not Available  
Not Available  

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

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used  
Used  

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable  
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire  

Sculpture
Not Yet Used  
Used  

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable  
Not Available  

Pictographs
Used  
Used  

Petroglyphs
Used  
Used  

Figurines
Not Yet Used  
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.  
Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock and it is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich inmagnesium.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Coesite, Corundum, Dolomite, Garnet, Kyanite, Lawsonite, Paragonite, Phengite, Pyroxene, Quartz, Rutile, Zoisite  
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz  

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Potassium, Sodium  
CaO, Mg, MgO  

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No  
Yes  

Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism  

Weathering
Yes  
No  

Types of Weathering
Mechanical Weathering  
Not Applicable  

Erosion
Yes  
No  

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion  
Not Applicable  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3.5-4  
1  

Grain Size
Fine Grained  
Fine Grained  

Fracture
Not Available  
Conchoidal  

Streak
White  
Black  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull  
Greasy  

Compressive Strength
Not Available  
225.00 N/mm2  
7

Cleavage
Perfect  
Perfect  

Toughness
Not Available  
1  

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87  
2.86  

Transparency
Opaque  
Opaque  

Density
3.2-3.6 g/cm3  
2.8-2.9 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available  
0.88 kJ/Kg K  
13

Resistance
Heat Resistant  
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant  

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
India, Kazakhstan, Kuwait, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey  
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand  

Africa
Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa  
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa  

Europe
France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Scotland  
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom  

Others
Greenland  
Not Available  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

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

South America
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador  
Colombia  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Eclogite and Soapstone Properties

Know all about Eclogite and Soapstone properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Eclogite and Soapstone belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Eclogite is Earthy whereas that of Soapstone is Polished. Eclogite appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Soapstone appears Dull, Banded and Foilated. The luster of Eclogite is subvitreous to dull while that of Soapstone is greasy. Eclogite is available in black, brown, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors. The commercial uses of Eclogite are creating artwork, gemstone and that of Soapstone are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, manufacture of soap, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibres, production of lime, source of magnesia (mgo).

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