Picrite and Shale

Picrite

Shale

Shale and Picrite

Definition

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

Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed by the compaction of silt and clay-size mineral particles

History

Origin

Hawaii Islands

Unknown

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From Greek pikros bitter + -ite, 19th century

From German Schalstein laminated limestone, and Schalgebirge layer of stone in stratified rock. From Old English scealu in its base sense of- thing that divides or separate,

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Earthy, Rough

Clastic, Splintery

Color

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

Black, Brown, Buff, Green, Grey, Red, Yellow

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Rough and Shiny

Muddy

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings

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.

Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts, Sculpture

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, Pottery

Types

Oceanite

Red Shale, Black Shale, Green Shale, Grey Shale and Yellow Shale

Features

Host Rock for Lead

Easily splits into thin plates, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Jantar Mantar in India

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.

Shale forms when very fine-grained clay particles are deposited in water which settle at the bottom of water bodies. They are later compacted hence forming shale.

Composition

Mineral Content

Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyrrhotite

Albite, Biotite, Calcite, Chert, Chlorite, Dolomite, Hematite, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyrite, Quartz, Silica, Sulfides

Compound Content

Al, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Mg, MgO

Ca, Fe, Mg, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium

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, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

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

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6.8

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Very fine-grained

Fracture

Uneven

Not Available

Streak

White, Greenish White or Grey

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Dull

Compressive Strength

189.00 N/mm²

95.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Imperfect

Slaty

Toughness

2.1

2.6

Specific Gravity

2.75-2.92

2.2-2.8

Transparency

Opaque

Density

1.5-2.5 g/cm³

2.4-2.8 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.88 kJ/Kg K

0.39 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India, Russia

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

Africa

South Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

Iceland

Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

USA

South America

Brazil

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Not Yet Found

New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Picrite and Shale Properties

Know all about Picrite and Shale properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Picrite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Shale belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Picrite is Earthy, Rough whereas that of Shale is Clastic, Splintery. Picrite appears Rough and Shiny and Shale appears Muddy. The luster of Picrite is subvitreous to dull while that of Shale is dull. Picrite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white, yellow colors whereas Shale is available in black, brown, buff, green, grey, red, 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 Shale are creating artwork, pottery.