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Lherzolite and Metapelite


Metapelite and Lherzolite


Definition

Definition
Lherzolite is a type of ultramafic igneous rock which contains essential olivine and clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene in equal proportions   
Metapelite is an old and currently not widely used field geological term for a clay rich fine-grained clastic sediment or sedimentary rock, i.e. mud or a mudstone   

History
  
  

Origin
France   
Unknown   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From the Lherz Massif, an alpine peridotite complex, at Étang de Lers, near Massat in the French Pyrenees; Lherz is the archaic spelling of this location   
From Pelos or clay in Greek   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Not Applicable   

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

Texture

Texture
Grenue   
Foliated   

Color
Black, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Pink, Purple   
Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Light Green, Light Greenish Grey   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Glassy, Vesicular and Foilated   
Banded   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings   
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone   

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Landscaping, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.   
Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
As armour rock for sea walls, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Used in aquariums   
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork   

Types

Types
Garnet Lherzolite   
Not Available   

Features
Host Rock for Lead   
Easily splits into thin plates, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

Pictographs
Not Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Used   

Figurines
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Lherzolite 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.   
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Metapelite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Harzburgite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite   
Albite, Chlorite, Quartz   

Compound Content
CaO, Cr, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, MgO   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

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, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5   
5-6   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Fibrous   

Streak
White   
Unknown   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Earthy   

Compressive Strength
290.00 N/mm2   
3
Not Available   

Cleavage
Perfect   
Not Available   

Toughness
2.7   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
2.86   
3.4-3.7   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   
0-300 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.95 kJ/Kg K   
9
0.72 kJ/Kg K   
20

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Russia, South Korea   
Not Yet Found   

Africa
Western Africa   
Western Africa   

Europe
United Kingdom   
United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Not Available   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia   
Central Australia, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Lherzolite and Metapelite Properties

Know all about Lherzolite and Metapelite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Lherzolite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Metapelite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Lherzolite is Grenue whereas that of Metapelite is Foliated. Lherzolite appears Glassy, Vesicular and Foilated and Metapelite appears Banded. The luster of Lherzolite is subvitreous to dull while that of Metapelite is earthy. Lherzolite is available in black, dark greenish - grey, green, pink, purple colors whereas Metapelite is available in dark greenish - grey, green, light green, light greenish grey colors. The commercial uses of Lherzolite are as armour rock for sea walls, source of magnesia (mgo), used in aquariums and that of Metapelite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork.

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