Metapelite and Dunite

Metapelite

Dunite

Definition

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

Dunite is a green to brownish coarse-grained igneous rock mainly consisting of olivine

History

Origin

Unknown

New Zealand

Discoverer

Unknown

Ferdinand von Hochstetter

Etymology

From Pelos or clay in Greek

From the name of Dun Mountain, New Zealand, + -ite1

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Plutonic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Foliated

Phaneritic

Color

Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Light Green, Light Greenish Grey

Dark Greenish - Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Banded

Rough and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Source of Chromite, Platinum, Nickel and Garnet, Source of Diamonds

Types

Not Available

Features

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

Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Not Yet Used

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

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.

Dunite is a plutonic ultramafic igneous rock consisting almost m olivine. It can be formed in two ways.

Composition

Mineral Content

Albite, Chlorite, Quartz

Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, MgO

Ca, CaO, Fe, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5-6

3.5-4

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Coarse Grained

Fracture

Fibrous

Irregular

Streak

Unknown

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Earthy

Shiny

Compressive Strength

Not Available

107.55 N/mm²

Cleavage

Not Available

Imperfect

Toughness

Not Available

2.1

Specific Gravity

3.4-3.7

3-3.01

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

0-300 g/cm³

2.84-2.85 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.72 kJ/Kg K

1.25 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey

Africa

Western Africa

Morocco, South Africa

Europe

United Kingdom

Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Not Available

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador

Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Central Australia, Western Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Metapelite and Dunite Properties

Know all about Metapelite and Dunite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Metapelite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Dunite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Metapelite is Foliated whereas that of Dunite is Phaneritic. Metapelite appears Banded and Dunite appears Rough and Shiny. The luster of Metapelite is earthy while that of Dunite is shiny. Metapelite and Dunite are available in dark greenish - grey, green, light green, light greenish grey colors. The commercial uses of Metapelite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Dunite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, source of chromite, platinum, nickel and garnet, source of diamonds.