×

Quartzite
Quartzite

Variolite
Variolite



ADD
Compare
X
Quartzite
X
Variolite

Quartzite vs Variolite

Definition

Definition

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

Unknown
Unknown

Etymology

From quartz + -ite
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated

Class

Metamorphic Rocks
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

-
Volcanic

Other Categories

Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture

Foliated, Granular
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular

Color

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

Maintenance

Less
Less

Durability

Durable
Durable

Water Resistant

Scratch Resistant

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Lustrous
Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing
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, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

-
-

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

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
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Types

Orthoquartzite and Metaquartzite
Metamorphic rock

Features

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
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
Absent

Formation

Formation

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

Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
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, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
-

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-76
1 7
👆🏻

Grain Size

Medium Grained
-

Fracture

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
Conchoidal

Streak

White
White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous
Less Porous

Luster

Vitreous
-

Compressive Strength

115.00 N/mm237.50 N/mm2
0.15 450
👆🏻

Cleavage

Indiscernible
-

Toughness

1.9
2.3

Specific Gravity

2.6-2.82.8-3
0 8.4
👆🏻

Transparency

Transparent to Translucent
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, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

Africa

Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe
South Africa

Europe

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

Others

Greenland
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Bahamas, Canada, USA
Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia
-

Quartzite vs Variolite Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Quartzite and Variolite Reserves. Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms by the metamorphism of pure quartz Sandstone. 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. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Quartzite vs Variolite information and Quartzite vs Variolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Quartzite vs Variolite Characteristics

Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Quartzite vs Variolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Quartzite and Properties of Variolite. Learn more about Quartzite vs Variolite in the next section. The interior uses of Quartzite include Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Homes whereas the interior uses of Variolite include Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Quartzite and Variolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Quartzite in construction industry include 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 and that of Variolite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.

More about Quartzite and Variolite

Here you can know more about Quartzite and Variolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Quartzite and Variolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Quartzite includes Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz and mineral content of Variolite includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Quartzite vs Variolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Quartzite is available in black, blue, brown, green, light grey, purple, white, yellow colors whereas, Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Quartzite is Lustrous and that of Variolite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Quartzite vs Variolite. The hardness of Quartzite is 6-7 and that of Variolite is 6. The types of Quartzite are Orthoquartzite and Metaquartzite whereas types of Variolite are Metamorphic rock. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Quartzite is white while that of Variolite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Quartzite is 0.75 kJ/Kg K and that of Variolite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Quartzite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Variolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.