1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Novaculite is a dense, hard, fine-grained, siliceous metamorpic rock which is a type of chert that breaks with conchoidal fracture
Pyroxenite is a dark, greenish, granular intrusive igneous rock consisting mainly of pyroxenes and olivine
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
1.2.2 Discoverer
1.3 Etymology
From Latin word novacula, for razor stone
From pyro- fire + Greek xenos stranger as the mineral group was new to igneous rocks
1.4 Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Igneous Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
1.6 Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Banded, Glassy, Rough, Vitreous
Clastic, Granular, Phaneritic, Porphyritic
2.2 Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
Black to Grey, Bluish - Grey, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Light Greenish Grey
2.3 Maintenance
2.4 Durability
2.4.1 Water Resistant
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
2.5 Appearance
Glassy or Pearly
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
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
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
Artifacts
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
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
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones
4 Types
4.1 Types
Not Available
Clinopyroxenites, Orthopyroxenites and Websterites
4.2 Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate
Generally rough to touch, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
Not Applicable
4.3.3 Sculpture
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
4.3.5 Pictographs
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
4.3.7 Figurines
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
4.4 Fossils
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
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.
Pyroxenites are ultramafic igneous rocks which are made up of minerals of the pyroxene group, such as augite and diopside, hypersthene, bronzite or enstatite.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Quartz, Silicon
Amphibole, Augite, Bronzite, Chromite, Diopside, Enstatite, Garnet, Hornblende, Hypersthene, Magnetite, Pyroxene
5.2.2 Compound Content
Ca, Silicon Dioxide
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Fine Grained
Coarse Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
6.1.4 Streak
Colorless
White, Greenish White or Grey
6.1.5 Porosity
6.1.6 Luster
Waxy and Dull
Dull to Vitreous to Submetallic
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
6.1.8 Cleavage
6.1.9 Toughness
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
Opaque
6.1.12 Density
2.7 g/cm33.1-3.6 g/cm3
0
1400
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
China, India, Iran, Japan, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
India, Russia
7.1.2 Africa
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
South Africa
7.1.3 Europe
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey
7.1.4 Others
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
Greenland
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
Canada, USA
7.2.2 South America
Bolivia, Brazil
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
New Zealand, Queensland