Definition
Norite is a mafic intrusive igneous rock composed largely of the calcium-rich plagioclase labradorite, orthopyroxene, and olivine
  
Novaculite is a dense, hard, fine-grained, siliceous metamorpic rock which is a type of chert that breaks with conchoidal fracture
  
History
  
  
Origin
Norway
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From the Norwegian name for Norway, Norge
  
From Latin word novacula, for razor stone
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Plutonic
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Phaneritic
  
Banded, Glassy, Rough, Vitreous
  
Color
Dark Grey to Black
  
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Veined and Shiny
  
Glassy or Pearly
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
  
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
  
Arrowheads, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Knives, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone, Spear Points, Used to sharpen metal tools and weapons
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Monuments
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones
  
Cemetery Markers, Gemstone, In aquifers, In fire-starting tools, Jewelry, Manufacture of tools, Pebbles are used in ball mills to grind in ceramics industry, To determine the gold content of jewelry
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Smooth to touch
  
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Present
  
Formation
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.
  
Novaculite forms when microcrystals of silicon dioxide grow within soft sediments that become limestone or chalk. The formation of Novaculite can be either of chemical or biological origin.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Quartz, Silicon
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide
  
Ca, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
7
  
7
  
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
Black
  
Colorless
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Not Available
  
Waxy and Dull
  
Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm2
  
7
450.00 N/mm2
  
1
Cleavage
Not Available
  
Non-Existent
  
Toughness
1.6
  
1.5
  
Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87
  
2.5-2.7
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
2.7-3.3 g/cm3
  
2.7 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available
  
0.74 kJ/Kg K
  
19
Resistance
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
India, Russia
  
China, India, Iran, Japan, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
  
Africa
South Africa
  
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey
  
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
  
Others
Greenland
  
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
South America
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
  
Bolivia, Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New Zealand, Queensland
  
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
All about Norite and Novaculite Properties
Know all about Norite and Novaculite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Norite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Novaculite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Norite is Phaneritic whereas that of Novaculite is Banded, Glassy, Rough, Vitreous. Norite appears Veined and Shiny and Novaculite appears Glassy or Pearly. The luster of Norite is not available while that of Novaculite is waxy and dull. Norite is available in dark grey to black colors whereas Novaculite is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Norite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones and that of Novaculite are cemetery markers, gemstone, in aquifers, in fire-starting tools, jewelry, manufacture of tools, pebbles are used in ball mills to grind in ceramics industry, to determine the gold content of jewelry.