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Kimberlite Rock



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.

History

Origin
Kimberley, South Africa

Discoverer
John W. Judd

Etymology
From Kimberley +‎ -ite, from the name of the South African town of Kimberley where the rock was first found.

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Volcanic

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

Texture

Texture
Porphyritic

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

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Dull and Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration

Other Architectural Uses
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

Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, 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)

Types

Types
Basaltic Kimberlites and Micaceous Kimberlites

Features
Always found as volcanic pipes over deep continental crust, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock, Surfaces are often shiny

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
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.

Composition

Mineral Content
Garnet, Olivine, Phlogopite, Pyroxene

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

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

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

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

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

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6-7

Grain Size
Fine to Coarse Grained

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
White

Porosity
Very Less Porous

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength
260.00 N/mm2 4

Cleavage
Conchoidal

Toughness
-

Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque

Density
2.95-2.96 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K 10

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
Russia

Africa
Angola, Botswana, Cameroon, Ethiopia, South Africa

Europe
England, Hungary, Iceland, United Kingdom

Others
Antarctica

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Argentina, Colombia, Ecuador

Deposits in Oceania Continent

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

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Igneous Rocks

Information about Kimberlite

Rocks are naturally occurring solids which are composed of minerals & have been used by humans since ages. From Stone Age, rocks are used for various purposes. Also, the metals and minerals found in rock play an important role in our life. Get to know all the Kimberlite Uses. We have provided you with all information about Kimberlite rock here. Kimberlite is a rare, blue-tinged, coarse-grained intrusive igneous rock, which sometimes contains diamonds and is mostly found in South Africa and Siberia.. Kimberlite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, dark greenish - grey, green, grey colors. The streak of a rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Kimberlite is white. Get to know more about Kimberlite rock and characteristics of Kimberlite rock in the next sections.

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