Picrite and Laterite

Picrite

Laterite

Laterite and Picrite

Definition

Picrite is a variety of high-magnesium olivine basalt that is very rich in the mineral olivine

Laterite rock is a type of Sedimentary rock which is rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas

History

Origin

Hawaii Islands

India

Discoverer

Unknown

Francis Buchanan-Hamilton

Etymology

From Greek pikros bitter + -ite, 19th century

From Latin later brick, tile + -ite1

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Earthy, Rough

Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic

Color

Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White, Yellow

Brown, Buff, Red

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Rough and Shiny

Rough and Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Roadstone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

Cobblestones, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

As a Feed Additive for Livestock, As armour rock for sea walls, Metallurgical Flux, Pottery, Source of Magnesia (MgO)

An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Source of bauxite, Used in aquariums

Types

Oceanite

Not Available

Features

Host Rock for Lead

Is one of the oldest rock, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Present

Formation

Picrite 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.

Laterite is a type of sedimentary rock which is generally a reddish weathering product of basalt.

Composition

Mineral Content

Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyrrhotite

Aluminum Oxides, Biotite, Hematite, Hornblade, Iron Oxides, Manganese Oxides, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

Al, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Mg, MgO

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

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

Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6.8

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Fracture

Uneven

Conchoidal

Streak

White, Greenish White or Grey

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Dull

Compressive Strength

189.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Imperfect

Not Applicable

Toughness

2.1

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.75-2.92

Not Available

Transparency

Opaque

Density

1.5-2.5 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.88 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Heat Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India, Russia

India

Africa

South Africa

East Africa, Western Africa

Europe

Iceland

England, Romania, Scotland

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Not Yet Found

Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Picrite and Laterite Properties

Know all about Picrite and Laterite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Picrite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Laterite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Picrite is Earthy, Rough whereas that of Laterite is Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic. Picrite appears Rough and Shiny and Laterite appears Rough and Banded. The luster of Picrite is subvitreous to dull while that of Laterite is dull. Picrite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white, yellow colors whereas Laterite is available in brown, buff, red colors. The commercial uses of Picrite are as a feed additive for livestock, as armour rock for sea walls, metallurgical flux, pottery, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Laterite are an oil and gas reservoir, source of bauxite, used in aquariums.