Soapstone and Tonalite

Soapstone

Tonalite

Definition

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

Tonalite is a coarse-grained plutonic rock consisting mainly of sodic plagioclase, quartz, and hornblende or other mafic minerals with phaneritic texture

History

Origin

USA

Tonale, Italy

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

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

From Tonale Pass, northern Italy, + -ite1

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Plutonic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

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

Texture

Polished

Phaneritic

Color

Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Dull, Banded and Foilated

Banded and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry

Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts, Sculpture

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

Dacite

Features

Host Rock for Lead

Is one of the oldest rock, Typically speckled black and white.

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

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

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.

When alkali feldspar is extracted from granite, it changes to granitoid and later, it becomes tonalite with quartz as major mineral.

Composition

Mineral Content

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

Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Manganese Oxides, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon

Compound Content

CaO, Mg, MgO

NaCl, CaO, MgO, 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

Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Streak

Black

Bluish Black

Porosity

Less Porous

Very Less Porous

Luster

Greasy

Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength

225.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Perfect

Not Available

Toughness

2.1

Specific Gravity

2.86

2.86-3

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.8-2.9 g/cm³

2.73 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.88 kJ/Kg K

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

Not Yet Found

Africa

Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa

Egypt

Europe

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

Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Sweden, Turkey

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

USA

South America

Colombia

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland

New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Soapstone and Tonalite Properties

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