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Shoshonite
Shoshonite

Variolite
Variolite



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Shoshonite
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Variolite

Shoshonite vs Variolite

Definition

Definition

Shoshonite is a basaltic rock, properly a potassic trachyandesite, composed of olivine, augite and plagioclase phenocrysts in a groundmass with calcic plagioclase and sanidine and some dark-colored volcanic glass
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance

History

Origin

Wyoming,USA
France

Discoverer

Iddings
Unknown

Etymology

From the place of origin called Shoshone riverin Wyoming
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated

Class

Igneous Rocks
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic
Volcanic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture

Porphyritic
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular

Color

Brown- Black, Dark Brown
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey

Maintenance

Less
Less

Durability

Durable
Durable

Water Resistant

Scratch Resistant

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Dull
Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

-
-

Antiquity Uses

Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Types

Intermediate volcanic rock
Metamorphic rock

Features

Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

-
-

Famous Monuments

-
-

Sculpture

-
-

Famous Sculptures

-
-

Pictographs

-
-

Petroglyphs

-
-

Figurines

-
-

Fossils

Absent
Absent

Formation

Formation

Shoshonite 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.
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks that exhibit pale colored spots on weathered surfaces that give them a pockmarked appearance.

Composition

Mineral Content

Pyroxene
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Titanium Dioxide
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
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
-

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

66
1 7
👆🏻

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
-

Fracture

Uneven
Conchoidal

Streak

White to Grey
White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous
Less Porous

Luster

Dull
-

Compressive Strength

175.00 N/mm237.50 N/mm2
0.15 450
👆🏻

Cleavage

-
-

Toughness

1.6
2.3

Specific Gravity

2.982.8-3
0 8.4
👆🏻

Transparency

Opaque
Opaque

Density

2.9-3 g/cm32.9-3.1 g/cm3
0 1400
👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.79 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K
0.14 3.2
👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India, Russia
India, Russia

Africa

South Africa
South Africa

Europe

Iceland
Iceland

Others

-
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA
Canada, USA

South America

Brazil
Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

-
-

Shoshonite vs Variolite Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Shoshonite and Variolite Reserves. Shoshonite is a basaltic rock, properly a potassic trachyandesite, composed of olivine, augite and plagioclase phenocrysts in a groundmass with calcic plagioclase and sanidine and some dark-colored volcanic glass. Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Shoshonite vs Variolite information and Shoshonite vs Variolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Shoshonite vs Variolite 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. Shoshonite vs Variolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Shoshonite and Properties of Variolite. Learn more about Shoshonite vs Variolite in the next section. The interior uses of Shoshonite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Variolite include Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Shoshonite and Variolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Shoshonite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone and that of Variolite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.

More about Shoshonite and Variolite

Here you can know more about Shoshonite and Variolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Shoshonite and Variolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Shoshonite includes Pyroxene and mineral content of Variolite includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Shoshonite vs Variolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Shoshonite is available in brown- black, dark brown colors whereas, Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Shoshonite is Dull and that of Variolite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Shoshonite vs Variolite. Hardness of Shoshonite and Variolite is 6. The types of Shoshonite are Intermediate volcanic rock whereas types of Variolite are Metamorphic rock. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Shoshonite and Variolite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Shoshonite is 0.79 kJ/Kg K and that of Variolite 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.Shoshonite is heat resistant, pressure resistant whereas Variolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.