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Lherzolite and Norite


Norite and Lherzolite


Definition

Definition
Lherzolite is a type of ultramafic igneous rock which contains essential olivine and clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene in equal proportions   
Norite is a mafic intrusive igneous rock composed largely of the calcium-rich plagioclase labradorite, orthopyroxene, and olivine   

History
  
  

Origin
France   
Norway   

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 the Norwegian name for Norway, Norge   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Plutonic   

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

Texture

Texture
Grenue   
Phaneritic   

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

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Appearance
Glassy, Vesicular and Foilated   
Veined and Shiny   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Landscaping, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.   
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
As armour rock for sea walls, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Used in aquariums   
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones   

Types

Types
Garnet Lherzolite   
Not Available   

Features
Host Rock for Lead   
Smooth to touch   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

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
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.   
Norite 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.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Harzburgite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite   
Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   

Compound Content
CaO, Cr, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism   
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

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

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5   
7   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
Black   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Not Available   

Compressive Strength
290.00 N/mm2   
3
225.00 N/mm2   
7

Cleavage
Perfect   
Not Available   

Toughness
2.7   
1.6   

Specific Gravity
2.86   
2.86-2.87   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   
2.7-3.3 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.95 kJ/Kg K   
9
Not Available   

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Russia, South Korea   
India, Russia   

Africa
Western Africa   
South Africa   

Europe
United Kingdom   
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Greenland   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia   
New Zealand, Queensland   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Lherzolite and Norite Properties

Know all about Lherzolite and Norite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Lherzolite and Norite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Lherzolite is Grenue whereas that of Norite is Phaneritic. Lherzolite appears Glassy, Vesicular and Foilated and Norite appears Veined and Shiny. The luster of Lherzolite is subvitreous to dull while that of Norite is not available. Lherzolite is available in black, dark greenish - grey, green, pink, purple colors whereas Norite is available in dark grey to black colors. The commercial uses of Lherzolite are as armour rock for sea walls, source of magnesia (mgo), used in aquariums and that of Norite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones.

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