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
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
  
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
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
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
  
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/mm
2
  
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
  
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
  
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.