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'.
  
An iron rich extrusive rock found as a member of the alkali basalt magma series
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Isle of Mull, Scotland
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Ben More
  
Etymology
From English word serpentinization.
  
From the name of discoverer, Ben More
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy
  
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Trachytic, Vesicular
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
  
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Rough and Dull
  
Rough and Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
  
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork
  
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling
  
Types
Jadeitite
  
Alkaline Basalt, Boninite, High Alumina Basalt, Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB) and Tholeiitic Basalt
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
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.
  
Benmoreite is a type of Igneous rock which is formed through the cooling and solidification of lava or magma. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides
  
Alkali feldspar, Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Sodic plagioclase
  
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
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
3-5
  
6
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey
  
Black
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Waxy and Dull
  
Earthy
  
Compressive Strength
310.00 N/mm2
  
2
37.40 N/mm2
  
28
Cleavage
Irregular
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
7
  
2.3
  
Specific Gravity
2.79-3
  
2.8-3
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.5-3 g/cm3
  
2.9-3.1 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.95 kJ/Kg K
  
9
0.84 kJ/Kg K
  
15
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea
  
India, Russia
  
Africa
Ethiopia, Western Africa
  
South Africa
  
Europe
England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Iceland
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Colombia
  
Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia
  
Not Yet Found
  
Serpentinite vs Benmoreite 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. Serpentinite vs Benmoreite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Serpentinite and Properties of Benmoreite. Learn more about Serpentinite vs Benmoreite in the next section. The interior uses of Serpentinite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Benmoreite include Floor tiles, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Serpentinite and Benmoreite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Serpentinite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement and that of Benmoreite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.
More about Serpentinite and Benmoreite
Here you can know more about Serpentinite and Benmoreite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Serpentinite and Benmoreite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Serpentinite includes Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides and mineral content of Benmoreite includes Alkali feldspar, Biotite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Sodic plagioclase. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Serpentinite vs Benmoreite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Serpentinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas, Benmoreite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Serpentinite is Rough and Dull and that of Benmoreite is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Serpentinite vs Benmoreite. The hardness of Serpentinite is 3-5 and that of Benmoreite is 6. The types of Serpentinite are Jadeitite whereas types of Benmoreite are Alkaline Basalt, Boninite, High Alumina Basalt, Mid Ocean Ridge Basalt (MORB) and Tholeiitic Basalt. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Serpentinite is white, greenish white or grey while that of Benmoreite is black. The specific heat capacity of Serpentinite is 0.95 kJ/Kg K and that of Benmoreite 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.Serpentinite is heat resistant whereas Benmoreite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.