Greenschist and Harzburgite

Greenschist

Harzburgite

Definition

Greenschist is a metamorphic rock that is formed under lowest temperatures and pressures and is usually produced by regional metamorphism

Harzburgite is a plutonic rock of the peridotite group consisting largely of orthopyroxene and olivine

History

Origin

Unknown

Germany

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From minerals such as chlorite, serpentine, and epidote, and platy minerals such as muscovite and platy serpentine which are green in color

From the name of a town in Harzburg, Germany

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Plutonic

Other Categories

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

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Foliated, Platy

Phaneritic

Color

Dark Greenish - Grey, Green

Dark Greenish - Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Layered and Shiny

Rough and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Roadstone

As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Blackboards, Manufacture of tools, Writing Slates

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

Types

Not Available

Features

Easily splits into thin plates, Smooth to touch

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

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Not Yet Used

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Greenschist is medium grade metamorphic rock, formed by the metamorphosis of mudstone or shale, or some types of igneous rock, when it is subjected to higher temperatures and pressures.

Harzburgite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.

Composition

Mineral Content

Alusite, Amphibole, Biotite, Chlorite, Epidote, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Kyanite, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Porphyroblasts, Quartz, Serpentine, Sillimanite, Staurolite, Talc

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

Compound Content

CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Impact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

3.5-4

5.5-6

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Irregular

Streak

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Shiny

Cleavage

Slaty

Imperfect

Toughness

1.5

2.1

Specific Gravity

2.5-2.9

3-3.01

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.8-2.9 g/cm³

3.1-3.4 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

1.25 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Japan, Oman

Africa

Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa

South Africa

Europe

Austria, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland

France, Germany, Italy, Venezuela

Others

Not Yet Found

Hawaii Islands, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia, Guyana

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Greenschist and Harzburgite Properties

Know all about Greenschist and Harzburgite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Greenschist belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Harzburgite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Greenschist is Foliated, Platy whereas that of Harzburgite is Phaneritic. Greenschist appears Layered and Shiny and Harzburgite appears Rough and Shiny. The luster of Greenschist and Harzburgite is shiny. Greenschist and Harzburgite are available in dark greenish - grey, green colors. The commercial uses of Greenschist are blackboards, manufacture of tools, writing slates and that of Harzburgite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, source of chromite, platinum, nickel and garnet, source of diamonds.