Home
Compare Rocks


Harzburgite and Tachylite


Tachylite and Harzburgite


Definition

Definition
Harzburgite is a plutonic rock of the peridotite group consisting largely of orthopyroxene and olivine   
Tachylite is a vitreous form of basaltic volcanic glass. This glass is formed naturally by the rapid cooling of molten basalt   

History
  
  

Origin
Germany   
Iceland   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From the name of a town in Harzburg, Germany   
From German Tachylite, from tachy- + Greek lutos soluble, melting   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Volcanic   

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

Texture

Texture
Phaneritic   
Vitreous   

Color
Dark Greenish - Grey   
Black, Dark Brown   

Maintenance
Less   
More   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
No   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
No   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Rough and Shiny   
Glassy   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones   
Cutting Tool, Knives, Landscaping, Scrapers   

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   
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork   

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, Clasts are smooth to touch, NA   

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   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
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.   
Tachylite 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
Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   
Feldspar, Olivine   

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

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

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

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

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

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5.5-6   
5.5   

Grain Size
Coarse Grained   
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Irregular   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
Vermilion   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Shiny   
Resinous   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
206.00 N/mm2   
8

Cleavage
Imperfect   
Not Available   

Toughness
2.1   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
3-3.01   
2.4   

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
3.1-3.4 g/cm3   
3.058 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
1.25 kJ/Kg K   
6
0.56 kJ/Kg K   
22

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Japan, Oman   
Cambodia, Russia, South Korea   

Africa
South Africa   
East Africa   

Europe
France, Germany, Italy, Venezuela   
England, Germany, Hungary, Iceland, Scotland, Sweden   

Others
Hawaii Islands, Mid-Atlantic Ridge   
Hawaii Islands   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
USA   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Not Yet Found   
Victoria   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Harzburgite and Tachylite Properties

Know all about Harzburgite and Tachylite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Harzburgite and Tachylite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Harzburgite is Phaneritic whereas that of Tachylite is Vitreous. Harzburgite appears Rough and Shiny and Tachylite appears Glassy. The luster of Harzburgite is shiny while that of Tachylite is resinous. Harzburgite is available in dark greenish - grey colors whereas Tachylite is available in black, dark brown colors. The commercial uses of Harzburgite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, source of chromite, platinum, nickel and garnet, source of diamonds and that of Tachylite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.

Compare Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Igneous Rocks

» More Igneous Rocks

Compare Igneous Rocks

» More Compare Igneous Rocks