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Harzburgite and Boninite


Boninite and Harzburgite


Definition

Definition
Harzburgite is a plutonic rock of the peridotite group consisting largely of orthopyroxene and olivine   
Boninite is a mafic extrusive rock which is high in magnesium and silica content, formed in fore-arc environments, typically during the early stages of subduction   

History
  
  

Origin
Germany   
Japan   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From the name of a town in Harzburg, Germany   
From its occurrence in the Izu-Bonin arc south of Japan   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Volcanic   

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

Texture

Texture
Phaneritic   
Aphanitic to Porphyritic   

Color
Dark Greenish - Grey   
Bluish - Grey, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Rough and Shiny   
Dull and Soft   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Kitchens   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Not Yet Used   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones   
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
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   
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Not Available   

Features
Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock   
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, High Mg content, Is one of the oldest 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   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
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.   
Boninite is a type of Igneous rock which is formed through the cooling and solidification of lava or existing rocks.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite   

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

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

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

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Biological Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5.5-6   
7   

Grain Size
Coarse Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Irregular   
Uneven   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Shiny   
Vitreous   

Cleavage
Imperfect   
Not Available   

Toughness
2.1   
1.1   

Specific Gravity
3-3.01   
2.5-2.8   

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
3.1-3.4 g/cm3   
Not Available   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
1.25 kJ/Kg K   
6
Not Available   

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Japan, Oman   
Not Available   

Africa
South Africa   
South Africa   

Europe
France, Germany, Italy, Venezuela   
England, Finland, United Kingdom   

Others
Hawaii Islands, Mid-Atlantic Ridge   
Antarctica, Greenland   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
USA   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Colombia, Uruguay   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Not Yet Found   
New Zealand, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Harzburgite and Boninite Properties

Know all about Harzburgite and Boninite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Harzburgite and Boninite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Harzburgite is Phaneritic whereas that of Boninite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic. Harzburgite appears Rough and Shiny and Boninite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Harzburgite is shiny while that of Boninite is vitreous. Harzburgite is available in dark greenish - grey colors whereas Boninite is available in bluish - grey, brown, colourless, green, grey colors. The commercial uses of Harzburgite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, source of chromite, platinum, nickel and garnet, source of diamonds and that of Boninite are an oil and gas reservoir, cemetery markers, creating artwork, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo).

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