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Kimberlite and Pegmatite


Pegmatite and Kimberlite


Definition

Definition
Kimberlite is a rare, blue-tinged, coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock, which sometimes contains diamonds and is mostly found in South Africa and Siberia.   
Pegmatite rock is a holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is composed of interlocking phaneritic crystals   

History
  
  

Origin
Kimberley, South Africa   
Unknown   

Discoverer
Unknown   
R. J. Hauy   

Etymology
From Kimberley +‎ -ite, from the name of the South African town of Kimberley where the rock was first found.   
From Greek pegma, pegmat which means- thing joined together + -ite   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Plutonic   

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

Texture

Texture
Porphyritic   
Pegmatitic   

Color
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Grey   
Black, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Rust, Silver, White, Yellow   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
No   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Dull and Banded   
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
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   
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping   

Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines   
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)   
Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz   

Types

Types
Basaltic Kimberlites and Micaceous Kimberlites   
Granite Pegmatite, Gabbro Pegmatite and Diorite Pegmatite   

Features
Always found as volcanic pipes over deep continental crust, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock, Surfaces are often shiny   
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Kimberlite is an igneous rock and is the main source of diamonds. Its formation takes place deep beneath the Earth’s surface between 150 to 450 kilometres, and are erupted rapidly and violently.   
Pegmatite rock is holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is formed by partial melting and dewatering during the process of metamorphism.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Garnet, Olivine, Phlogopite, Pyroxene   
Apatite, Beryl, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Lepidolite, Quartz, Silica, Spodumene, Topaz   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Phosphorus Pentoxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

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

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

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

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6-7   
7   

Grain Size
Fine to Coarse Grained   
Medium to Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Very Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
178.54 N/mm2   
12

Cleavage
Conchoidal   
Perfect   

Toughness
Not Available   
2.1   

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87   
2.6-2.63   

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque   
Translucent to Opaque   

Density
2.95-2.96 g/cm3   
2.6-2.65 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
Not Available   

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Russia   
China, India, Iran, Japan, Nepal, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea   

Africa
Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa   
South Africa   

Europe
England, Hungary, Iceland, United Kingdom   
Austria, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine   

Others
Antarctica   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
Canada   

South America
Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador   
Brazil   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Kimberlite and Pegmatite Properties

Know all about Kimberlite and Pegmatite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Kimberlite and Pegmatite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Kimberlite is Porphyritic whereas that of Pegmatite is Pegmatitic. Kimberlite appears Dull and Banded and Pegmatite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Kimberlite is subvitreous to dull while that of Pegmatite is grainy, pearly and vitreous. Kimberlite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, dark greenish - grey, green, grey colors whereas Pegmatite is available in black, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, rust, silver, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Kimberlite are an oil and gas reservoir, as a feed additive for livestock, gemstone, metallurgical flux, production of lime, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Pegmatite are creating artwork, jewelry, source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz.

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