Pegmatite

Variolite

Pegmatite and Variolite

Pegmatite

Variolite

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Definition

Pegmatite rock is a holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is composed of interlocking phaneritic crystals

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

France

Discoverer

R. J. Hauy

Unknown

Etymology

From Greek pegma, pegmat which means- thing joined together + -ite

From Latin varius, speckled, variegated

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Volcanic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Opaque Rock

Texture

Pegmatitic

Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular

Color

Black, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Rust, Silver, White, Yellow

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone

Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping

As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Granite Pegmatite, Gabbro Pegmatite and Diorite Pegmatite

Metamorphic rock

Features

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz

Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Pegmatite rock is holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is formed by partial melting and dewatering during the process of metamorphism.

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

Apatite, Beryl, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Lepidolite, Quartz, Silica, Spodumene, Topaz

Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Phosphorus Pentoxide

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

1 7

👆🏻

Grain Size

Medium to Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Streak

White

White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous

Compressive Strength

178.54 N/mm²37.50 N/mm²

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Perfect

Toughness

2.1

2.3

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.632.8-3

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

2.6-2.65 g/cm³2.9-3.1 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.79 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Iran, Japan, Nepal, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea

India, Russia

Africa

South Africa

Europe

Austria, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine

Iceland

Others

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

All about Pegmatite and Variolite Properties

Know all about Pegmatite and Variolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Pegmatite and Variolite belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Pegmatite is Pegmatitic whereas that of Variolite is Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular. Pegmatite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and Variolite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Pegmatite is grainy, pearly and vitreous while that of Variolite is . Pegmatite is available in black, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, rust, silver, white, yellow colors whereas Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. The commercial uses of Pegmatite are creating artwork, jewelry, source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz and that of Variolite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.