Quartzite

Cataclasite

Quartzite and Cataclasite

Quartzite

Cataclasite

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Definition

Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms by the metamorphism of pure quartz Sandstone

Cataclasite is a type of cataclastic rock that is formed by fracturing and comminution during faulting. It is normally cohesive and non-foliated, consisting of angular clasts in a finer-grained matrix

History

Origin

Swiss Alps, Europe

Discoverer

Unknown

Michael Tellinger

Etymology

From quartz + -ite

From the Italian word cataclasi

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Other Categories

Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Foliated, Granular

Clastic

Color

Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Light Grey, Purple, White, Yellow

Brown, Green, White, Yellow

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Lustrous

Dull and Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

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

Medical Industry

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As armour rock for sea walls, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, In aquifers, Laboratory bench tops, Petroleum reservoirs, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Tombstones, Used in aquariums

Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Orthoquartzite and Metaquartzite

Protocataclasite, Mesocataclasite, Ultracataclasite and Foliated cataclasite

Features

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock

Easily splits into thin plates, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Quartzite forms from sandstone and the mineral quartz being put under extreme heat and pressure.

Cataclasiste rocks mainly form by pressure deep under the Earth's surface, from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.

Composition

Mineral Content

Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz

Albite, Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-73-4

1 7

👆🏻

Grain Size

Medium Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Streak

White

Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Vitreous

Compressive Strength

115.00 N/mm²50.00 N/mm²

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Indiscernible

Toughness

1.9

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.82.1

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Transparent to Translucent

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.32-2.42 g/cm³2.9-3.1 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.75 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey

China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea

Africa

Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe

Egypt, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, South Africa

Europe

England, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, United Kingdom

England, Finland, France, Spain, United Kingdom

Others

Greenland

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Bahamas, Canada, USA

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Argentina, Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

Central Australia, Western Australia

All about Quartzite and Cataclasite Properties

Know all about Quartzite and Cataclasite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Quartzite and Cataclasite belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Quartzite is Foliated, Granular whereas that of Cataclasite is Clastic. Quartzite appears Lustrous and Cataclasite appears Dull and Banded. The luster of Quartzite and Cataclasite is vitreous. Quartzite and Cataclasite are available in black, blue, brown, green, light grey, purple, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Quartzite are an oil and gas reservoir, as armour rock for sea walls, cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, in aquifers, laboratory bench tops, petroleum reservoirs, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo), tombstones, used in aquariums and that of Cataclasite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork.