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
Diatomite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed from consolidated diatomaceous earth
Origin
New Zealand
Germany
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
From Greek mulōn mill + -ite
From diatom + -ite1
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Foliated
Clastic or Non-Clastic
Color
Black to Grey
Grey, White, Yellow
Durability
Durable
Non-Durable
Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated
Soft
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Source of calcium
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
Artifacts
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry
Alumina Refineries, Animal feed filler, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Creating Artwork, Drawing on blackboards, Fire resistant, Gymnasts, athletes and mountain climbers use for grip, In aquifers, Soil Conditioner, To ignite fire, Used as a filter medium, Used as an insecticide, Whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper
Types
Blastomylonites, Ultramylonites and Phyllonites
Diatomite
Features
Surfaces are often shiny
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock
Archaeological Significance
Formation
Mylonites are ductilely deformed rocks formed by the accumulation of large shear strain, in ductile fault zones.
Diatomite rock formed from the skeletal remains of single celled plants called diatoms. When diatoms die, their skeletal remains sink to the bottom of lakes and oceans etc. hence forming diatomite deposit.
Mineral Content
Porphyroblasts
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, Calcium Sulfate, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, Silicon Dioxide
Ca, NaCl, CaO
Types of Metamorphism
-
-
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Very fine-grained
Porosity
Highly Porous
Highly Porous
Specific Gravity
2.97-3.05
2.3-2.4
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.6-4.8 g/cm3
2.49-2.51 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Heat Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
Africa
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
Europe
England, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, United Kingdom
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
USA
Canada, USA
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula
Mylonite vs Diatomite Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Mylonite vs Diatomite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Mylonite and Properties of Diatomite. Learn more about Mylonite vs Diatomite in the next section. The interior uses of Mylonite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Diatomite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Mylonite and Diatomite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Mylonite in construction industry include For road aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone and that of Diatomite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Source of calcium.
More about Mylonite and Diatomite
Here you can know more about Mylonite and Diatomite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Mylonite and Diatomite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Mylonite includes Porphyroblasts and mineral content of Diatomite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Mylonite vs Diatomite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Mylonite is available in black to grey colors whereas, Diatomite is available in grey, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Mylonite is Dull, Banded and Foilated and that of Diatomite is Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Mylonite vs Diatomite. The hardness of Mylonite is 3-4 and that of Diatomite is 1. The types of Mylonite are Blastomylonites, Ultramylonites and Phyllonites whereas types of Diatomite are Diatomite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Mylonite and Diatomite is white. The specific heat capacity of Mylonite is 1.50 kJ/Kg K and that of Diatomite is 0.90 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Mylonite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant whereas Diatomite is heat resistant.