Soapstone and Rhyodacite

Soapstone

Rhyodacite

Rhyodacite and Soapstone

Definition

It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc

Rhyodacite is an extrusive volcanic rock intermediate in composition between dacite and rhyolite

History

Origin

USA

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap

Rhyo lite + dacite : a rock intermediate between rhyolite and dacite that is the extrusive equivalent of granodiorite

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Volcanic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Polished

Earthy

Color

Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey

Black to Grey, Dark Greenish - Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Dull, Banded and Foilated

Skeletal

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping

Medical Industry

Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Not Available

Features

Host Rock for Lead

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock and it is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich inmagnesium.

Rhyodacite 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

Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon

Compound Content

CaO, Mg, MgO

Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, NA, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Not Applicable

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Not Applicable

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Streak

Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Greasy

Greasy to Dull

Compressive Strength

225.00 N/mm²

200.50 N/mm²

Cleavage

Perfect

Not Available

Toughness

2.1

Specific Gravity

2.86

2.34-2.40

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.8-2.9 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.88 kJ/Kg K

1.12 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

South America

Colombia

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Soapstone and Rhyodacite Properties

Know all about Soapstone and Rhyodacite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Soapstone belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Rhyodacite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Soapstone is Polished whereas that of Rhyodacite is Earthy. Soapstone appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Rhyodacite appears Skeletal. The luster of Soapstone is greasy while that of Rhyodacite is greasy to dull. Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors whereas Rhyodacite is available in black to grey, dark greenish - grey colors. The commercial uses of Soapstone and Rhyodacite are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, manufacture of soap, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibres, production of lime, source of magnesia (mgo).