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Laterite and Lignite


Lignite and Laterite


Definition

Definition
Laterite rock is a type of Sedimentary rock which is rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas   
Lignite is a soft brownish coal which shows traces of plants and is intermediate between bituminous coal and peat   

History
  
  

Origin
India   
France   

Discoverer
Francis Buchanan-Hamilton   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Latin later brick, tile + -ite1   
From French, Latin lignum wood + -ite1   

Class
Sedimentary Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

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

Texture

Texture
Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic   
Amorphous, Glassy   

Color
Brown, Buff, Red   
Black, Brown, Dark Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
No   

Scratch Resistant
No   
No   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Rough and Banded   
Veined or Pebbled   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration   
Not Yet Used   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration   
Not Yet Used   

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Not Yet Used   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Cobblestones, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone   
for Road Aggregate, Steel Production   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Not Yet Used   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Source of bauxite, Used in aquariums   
Electricity Generation   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Xyloid Lignite or Fossil Wood and Compact Lignite or Perfect Lignite   

Features
Is one of the oldest rock, Very fine grained rock   
Generally rough to touch, Helps in production of Heat and Electricity, Used as fossil fuel   

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
Present   
Present   

Formation

Formation
Laterite is a type of sedimentary rock which is generally a reddish weathering product of basalt.   
Coal formation takes place due to accumulation of plant debris in a swamp environment. The Coal formation process continues, as peat turns into lignite brown or black coal at increasing heat and pressure.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Aluminum Oxides, Biotite, Hematite, Hornblade, Iron Oxides, Manganese Oxides, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   
Not Available   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   
Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

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

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
2   
1   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
Black   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Dull   
Dull to Vitreous to Submetallic   

Cleavage
Not Applicable   
Non-Existent   

Toughness
Not Available   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
Not Available   
1.1-1.4   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
Not Available   
800-801 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available   
1.26 kJ/Kg K   
5

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant   
Heat Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
India   
Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam   

Africa
East Africa, Western Africa   
Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania   

Europe
England, Romania, Scotland   
Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Ukraine, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
Canada, Mexico, USA   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia   
New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Laterite and Lignite Properties

Know all about Laterite and Lignite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Laterite and Lignite belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Laterite is Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic whereas that of Lignite is Amorphous, Glassy. Laterite appears Rough and Banded and Lignite appears Veined or Pebbled. The luster of Laterite is dull while that of Lignite is dull to vitreous to submetallic. Laterite is available in brown, buff, red colors whereas Lignite is available in black, brown, dark brown, grey, light to dark grey colors. The commercial uses of Laterite are an oil and gas reservoir, source of bauxite, used in aquariums and that of Lignite are electricity generation.

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