Serpentinite

Laterite

Serpentinite and Laterite

Serpentinite

Laterite

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Definition

A hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle is called as serpentinization, a group of minerals is formed by serpentinization compose rock 'serpentinite'.

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

History

Origin

USA

India

Discoverer

Unknown

Francis Buchanan-Hamilton

Etymology

From English word serpentinization.

From Latin later brick, tile + -ite1

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Earthy

Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic

Color

Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White

Brown, Buff, Red

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Rough and Dull

Rough and Banded

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement

Cobblestones, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone

Medical Industry

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

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

Types

Jadeitite

Laterite

Features

Host Rock for Lead

Is one of the oldest rock, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Absent

Present

Formation

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

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

Composition

Mineral Content

Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides

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

Compound Content

Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur

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, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

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

Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

3-52

1 7

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Grain Size

Very fine-grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Uneven

Conchoidal

Streak

White, Greenish White or Grey

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Waxy and Dull

Dull

Compressive Strength

310.00 N/mm²5.00 N/mm²

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Toughness

Specific Gravity

2.79-3-9999

0 8.4

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Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.5-3 g/cm³-9999 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.95 kJ/Kg K0.92 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea

India

Africa

Ethiopia, Western Africa

East Africa, Western Africa

Europe

England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom

England, Romania, Scotland

Others

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada

Canada, USA

South America

Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Central Australia, New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia

Central Australia, Western Australia

All about Serpentinite and Laterite Properties

Know all about Serpentinite and Laterite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Serpentinite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Laterite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Serpentinite is Earthy whereas that of Laterite is Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic. Serpentinite appears Rough and Dull and Laterite appears Rough and Banded. The luster of Serpentinite is waxy and dull while that of Laterite is dull. Serpentinite is available in black, brown, green, grey, white colors whereas Laterite is available in brown, buff, red colors. The commercial uses of Serpentinite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Laterite are an oil and gas reservoir, source of bauxite, used in aquariums.