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Mylonite and Variolite


Variolite 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   
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance   

History
  
  

Origin
New Zealand   
France   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Greek mulōn mill + -ite   
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated   

Class
Metamorphic Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Volcanic   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Foliated   
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular   

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

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated   
Dull and Soft   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone   
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments   
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry   
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork   

Types

Types
Blastomylonites, Ultramylonites and Phyllonites   
Not Available   

Features
Surfaces are often shiny   
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

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.   
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks that exhibit pale colored spots on weathered surfaces that give them a pockmarked appearance.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Porphyroblasts   
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, Calcium Sulfate, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, Silicon Dioxide   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No   
Yes   

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

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

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

Erosion
Yes   
No   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3-4   
6   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Not Applicable   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
White to Grey   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Shiny   
Not Available   

Compressive Strength
1.28 N/mm2   
32
37.50 N/mm2   
27

Cleavage
Conchoidal   
Not Available   

Toughness
Not Available   
2.3   

Specific Gravity
2.97-3.05   
2.8-3   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.6-4.8 g/cm3   
2.9-3.1 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
1.50 kJ/Kg K   
3
0.84 kJ/Kg K   
15

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea   
India, Russia   

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

Europe
England, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, United Kingdom   
Iceland   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Not Yet Found   
Brazil   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia   
Not Yet Found   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Mylonite and Variolite Properties

Know all about Mylonite and Variolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Mylonite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Variolite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Mylonite is Foliated whereas that of Variolite is Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular. Mylonite appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Variolite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Mylonite is shiny while that of Variolite is not available. Mylonite is available in black to grey colors whereas Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. The commercial uses of Mylonite are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry and that of Variolite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.

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