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'.
  
Pyrolite is an igneous rock consisting of about three parts of peridotite and one part of basalt
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Pike County, U.S
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From English word serpentinization.
  
From the chemical and mineralogical composition of the upper mantle of the Earth
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Plutonic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy
  
Phaneritic
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
  
Dark Greenish - Grey
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Rough and Dull
  
Rough and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
  
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones
  
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
  
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Source of Chromite, Platinum, Nickel and Garnet, Source of Diamonds
  
Types
Jadeitite
  
Dunite, Wehrlite, Harzburgite, Lherzolite
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest 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.
  
Pyrolite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. 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
  
Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Ca, Fe, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium, 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
  
5.5-6
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven
  
Irregular
  
Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Waxy and Dull
  
Shiny
  
Compressive Strength
310.00 N/mm2
  
2
107.55 N/mm2
  
19
Cleavage
Irregular
  
Imperfect
  
Toughness
7
  
2.1
  
Specific Gravity
2.79-3
  
3-3.01
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
2.5-3 g/cm3
  
3.1-3.4 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.95 kJ/Kg K
  
9
1.25 kJ/Kg K
  
6
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea
  
China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey
  
Africa
Ethiopia, Western Africa
  
Morocco, South Africa
  
Europe
England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Great Britain, Italy, Kazakhstan, Netherlands, Norway, Spain, Switzerland, Venezuela
  
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
  
New Zealand, Western Australia
  
Serpentinite vs Pyrolite 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 Pyrolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Serpentinite and Properties of Pyrolite. Learn more about Serpentinite vs Pyrolite in the next section. The interior uses of Serpentinite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Pyrolite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Serpentinite and Pyrolite, 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 Pyrolite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones.
More about Serpentinite and Pyrolite
Here you can know more about Serpentinite and Pyrolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Serpentinite and Pyrolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Serpentinite includes Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides and mineral content of Pyrolite includes Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Serpentinite vs Pyrolite, 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, Pyrolite is available in dark greenish - grey colors. Appearance of Serpentinite is Rough and Dull and that of Pyrolite is Rough and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Serpentinite vs Pyrolite. The hardness of Serpentinite is 3-5 and that of Pyrolite is 5.5-6. The types of Serpentinite are Jadeitite whereas types of Pyrolite are Dunite, Wehrlite, Harzburgite, Lherzolite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Serpentinite and Pyrolite is white, greenish white or grey. The specific heat capacity of Serpentinite is 0.95 kJ/Kg K and that of Pyrolite is 1.25 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 Pyrolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.