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'.
  
Dolomite is a sedimentary rock containing more than 50 percent of the mineral dolomite by weight
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Southern Alps, France
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Dolomieu
  
Etymology
From English word serpentinization.
  
From French, from the name of Dolomieu (1750–1801), the French geologist who discovered the rock
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy
  
Earthy
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Rough and Dull
  
Glassy or Pearly
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Not Yet Used
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
  
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Serves as an Oil and Gas Reservoir rock
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork
  
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Types
Jadeitite
  
Boninite and Jasperoid
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Host Rock for Lead, Traps for subsurface fluids like Oil and Natural Gas., Zinc and Copper Deposits
  
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
  
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.
  
Dolomite rocks are originally deposited as calcite or aragonite rich limestone, but during diagenesis process, the calcite or aragonite is transformed into dolomite.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides
  
Clay Minerals, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfides
  
Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
  
NaCl, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
Weathering
No
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Not Applicable
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
3-5
  
3.5-4
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Waxy and Dull
  
Vitreous and Pearly
  
Compressive Strength
310.00 N/mm2
  
2
140.00 N/mm2
  
15
Cleavage
Irregular
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
7
  
1
  
Specific Gravity
2.79-3
  
2.8-3
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Transparent to Translucent
  
Density
2.5-3 g/cm3
  
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.95 kJ/Kg K
  
9
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea
  
China, India
  
Africa
Ethiopia, Western Africa
  
Morocco, Namibia
  
Europe
England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Austria, Italy, Romania, Spain, Switzerland
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada
  
Mexico, USA
  
South America
Colombia
  
Brazil, Colombia
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, Queensland, Yorke Peninsula
  
Serpentinite vs Dolomite 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 Dolomite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Serpentinite and Properties of Dolomite. Learn more about Serpentinite vs Dolomite in the next section. The interior uses of Serpentinite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Dolomite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Serpentinite and Dolomite, 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 Dolomite include As a flux in the production of steel and pig iron, As a sintering agent in steel industry to process iron ore, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories, Production of glass and ceramics, Serves as an oil and gas reservoir rock.
More about Serpentinite and Dolomite
Here you can know more about Serpentinite and Dolomite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Serpentinite and Dolomite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Serpentinite includes Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides and mineral content of Dolomite includes Clay Minerals, Pyrite, Quartz, Sulfides. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Serpentinite vs Dolomite, 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, Dolomite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors. Appearance of Serpentinite is Rough and Dull and that of Dolomite is Glassy or Pearly. Properties of rock is another aspect for Serpentinite vs Dolomite. The hardness of Serpentinite is 3-5 and that of Dolomite is 3.5-4. The types of Serpentinite are Jadeitite whereas types of Dolomite are Boninite and Jasperoid. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Serpentinite and Dolomite is white, greenish white or grey. The specific heat capacity of Serpentinite is 0.95 kJ/Kg K and that of Dolomite is 0.92 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 Dolomite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.