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Mylonite and Soapstone


Soapstone and Mylonite


Definition

Definition
Mylonite is a metamorphic rock formed by ductile deformation during intense shearing encountered during folding and faulting, a process termed cataclastic or dynamic metamorphism   
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc   

History
  
  

Origin
New Zealand   
USA   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Greek mulōn mill + -ite   
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap   

Class
Metamorphic Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

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

Texture

Texture
Foliated   
Polished   

Color
Black to Grey   
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
No   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated   
Dull, Banded and Foilated   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone   
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments   
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry   
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)   

Types

Types
Blastomylonites, Ultramylonites and Phyllonites   
Not Available   

Features
Surfaces are often shiny   
Host Rock for Lead   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire   

Sculpture
Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Mylonites are ductilely deformed rocks formed by the accumulation of large shear strain, in ductile fault zones.   
Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock and it is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich inmagnesium.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Porphyroblasts   
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, Calcium Sulfate, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, Silicon Dioxide   
CaO, Mg, MgO   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable   
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
No   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Not Applicable   

Erosion
Yes   
No   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion   
Not Applicable   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3-4   
1   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
Black   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Shiny   
Greasy   

Compressive Strength
1.28 N/mm2   
32
225.00 N/mm2   
7

Cleavage
Conchoidal   
Perfect   

Toughness
Not Available   
1   

Specific Gravity
2.97-3.05   
2.86   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.6-4.8 g/cm3   
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
1.50 kJ/Kg K   
3
0.88 kJ/Kg K   
13

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea   
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand   

Africa
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa   
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa   

Europe
England, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, United Kingdom   
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Colombia   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia   
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Mylonite and Soapstone Properties

Know all about Mylonite and Soapstone properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Mylonite and Soapstone belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Mylonite is Foliated whereas that of Soapstone is Polished. Mylonite appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Soapstone appears Dull, Banded and Foilated. The luster of Mylonite is shiny while that of Soapstone is greasy. Mylonite is available in black to grey colors whereas Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors. The commercial uses of Mylonite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry and that of Soapstone are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, manufacture of soap, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibres, production of lime, source of magnesia (mgo).

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