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Gabbro and Serpentinite


Serpentinite and Gabbro


Definition

Definition
Gabbro is an intrusive igneous rock which is chemically equivalent to plutonic Basalt   
A hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle is called as serpentinization, a group of minerals is formed by serpentinization compose rock 'serpentinite'.   

History
  
  

Origin
Germany   
USA   

Discoverer
Christian Leopold von Buch   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Latin glaber bare, smooth, bald   
From English word serpentinization.   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Not Applicable   

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

Texture

Texture
Phaneritic   
Earthy   

Color
Dark Grey to Black   
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
No   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
No   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Veined and Shiny   
Rough and Dull   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

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

Types

Types
Not Available   
Jadeitite   

Features
Smooth to touch   
Host Rock for Lead   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Sculpture
Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Not Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Gabbro, a mafic rock, forms due to cooling and crystallization of magma underneath Earth's surface.   
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Serpentinite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   
Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide   
Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Impact Metamorphism   
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
No   

Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering   
Not Applicable   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Coastal Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
7   
3-5   

Grain Size
Coarse Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Uneven   

Streak
Black   
White, Greenish White or Grey   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Not Available   
Waxy and Dull   

Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm2   
7
310.00 N/mm2   
2

Cleavage
Not Available   
Irregular   

Toughness
1.6   
7   

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87   
2.79-3   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.7-3.3 g/cm3   
2.5-3 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available   
0.95 kJ/Kg K   
9

Resistance
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
India, Russia   
India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea   

Africa
South Africa   
Ethiopia, Western Africa   

Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey   
England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom   

Others
Greenland   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
Canada   

South America
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela   
Colombia   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Queensland   
Central Australia, New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Gabbro and Serpentinite Properties

Know all about Gabbro and Serpentinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gabbro belongs to Igneous Rocks while Serpentinite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Gabbro is Phaneritic whereas that of Serpentinite is Earthy. Gabbro appears Veined and Shiny and Serpentinite appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Gabbro is not available while that of Serpentinite is waxy and dull. Gabbro is available in dark grey to black colors whereas Serpentinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Gabbro are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones and that of Serpentinite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork.

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