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Picrite and Pseudotachylite


Pseudotachylite and Picrite


Definition

Definition
Picrite is a variety of high-magnesium olivine basalt that is very rich in the mineral olivine   
Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.   

History
  
  

Origin
Hawaii Islands   
USA   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Greek pikros bitter + -ite, 19th century   
From pseudo- +‎ tachylite, a glassy rock generated by frictional heat within faults.   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Earthy, Rough   
Quench   

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

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
No   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Appearance
Rough and Shiny   
Dull and Soft   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, 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   
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.   
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Monuments   

Other Uses
  
  

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

Types

Types
Oceanite   
Not Available   

Features
Host Rock for Lead   
Host Rock for Lead   

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   
Absent   

Formation

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.   
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Pseudotachylite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyrrhotite   
Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides   

Compound Content
Al, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Mg, MgO   
Carbon Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
No   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering   
Not Applicable   

Erosion
Yes   
No   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   
Not Applicable   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.8   
7   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Uneven   
Uneven   

Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey   
Light to dark brown   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Vitreous   

Compressive Strength
189.00 N/mm2   
11
60.00 N/mm2   
25

Cleavage
Imperfect   
Irregular   

Toughness
2.1   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
2.75-2.92   
2.46-2.86   

Transparency
Opaque   
Transparent to Translucent   

Density
1.5-2.5 g/cm3   
2.7-2.9 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K   
13
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10

Resistance
Heat Resistant   
Heat Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
India, Russia   
South Korea   

Africa
South Africa   
Western Africa   

Europe
Iceland   
Great Britain, Switzerland   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, USA   
Not Yet Found   

South America
Brazil   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Not Yet Found   
Central Australia, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Picrite and Pseudotachylite Properties

Know all about Picrite and Pseudotachylite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Picrite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Pseudotachylite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Picrite is Earthy, Rough whereas that of Pseudotachylite is Quench. Picrite appears Rough and Shiny and Pseudotachylite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Picrite is subvitreous to dull while that of Pseudotachylite is vitreous. Picrite and Pseudotachylite are available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white, yellow 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 Pseudotachylite are creating artwork, gemstone.

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