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'.
  
Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
USA
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From English word serpentinization.
  
From pseudo- + tachylite, a glassy rock generated by frictional heat within faults.
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy
  
Quench
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Rough and Dull
  
Dull and Soft
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, 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
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Monuments
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork
  
Creating Artwork, Gemstone
  
Types
Jadeitite
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Host Rock for Lead
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet 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.
  
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Pseudotachylite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides
  
Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides
  
Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Carbon Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
  
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
  
7
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Very fine-grained
  
Fracture
Uneven
  
Uneven
  
Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey
  
Light to dark brown
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Waxy and Dull
  
Vitreous
  
Compressive Strength
310.00 N/mm2
  
2
60.00 N/mm2
  
25
Cleavage
Irregular
  
Irregular
  
Toughness
7
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.79-3
  
2.46-2.86
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Transparent to Translucent
  
Density
2.5-3 g/cm3
  
2.7-2.9 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.95 kJ/Kg K
  
9
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea
  
South Korea
  
Africa
Ethiopia, Western Africa
  
Western Africa
  
Europe
England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Great Britain, Switzerland
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada
  
Not Yet Found
  
South America
Colombia
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia
  
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
Serpentinite vs Pseudotachylite 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 Pseudotachylite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Serpentinite and Properties of Pseudotachylite. Learn more about Serpentinite vs Pseudotachylite in the next section. The interior uses of Serpentinite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Pseudotachylite include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Serpentinite and Pseudotachylite, 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 Pseudotachylite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement.
More about Serpentinite and Pseudotachylite
Here you can know more about Serpentinite and Pseudotachylite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Serpentinite and Pseudotachylite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Serpentinite includes Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides and mineral content of Pseudotachylite includes Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Serpentinite vs Pseudotachylite, 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, Pseudotachylite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors. Appearance of Serpentinite is Rough and Dull and that of Pseudotachylite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Serpentinite vs Pseudotachylite. The hardness of Serpentinite is 3-5 and that of Pseudotachylite is 7. The types of Serpentinite are Jadeitite whereas types of Pseudotachylite are Not Available. 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 Pseudotachylite is light to dark brown. The specific heat capacity of Serpentinite is 0.95 kJ/Kg K and that of Pseudotachylite 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 Pseudotachylite is heat resistant.