Definition
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc
  
Boninite is a mafic extrusive rock which is high in magnesium and silica content, formed in fore-arc environments, typically during the early stages of subduction
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Japan
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap
  
From its occurrence in the Izu-Bonin arc south of Japan
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Polished
  
Aphanitic to Porphyritic
  
Color
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey
  
Bluish - Grey, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated
  
Dull and Soft
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Kitchens
  
Exterior Uses
As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Not Yet Used
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
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)
  
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, High Mg content, Is one of the oldest rock
  
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
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
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.
  
Boninite is a type of Igneous rock which is formed through the cooling and solidification of lava or existing rocks.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
  
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite
  
Compound Content
CaO, Mg, MgO
  
Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Biological Weathering
  
Erosion
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
1
  
7
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Uneven
  
Streak
Black
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Greasy
  
Vitreous
  
Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm
2
  
7
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
1
  
1.1
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
2.5-2.8
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K
  
13
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand
  
Not Available
  
Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
  
South Africa
  
Europe
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
England, Finland, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Antarctica, Greenland
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
USA
  
South America
Colombia
  
Colombia, Uruguay
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland
  
New Zealand, Western Australia
  
Soapstone vs Boninite 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. Soapstone vs Boninite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Soapstone and Properties of Boninite. Learn more about Soapstone vs Boninite in the next section. The interior uses of Soapstone include Bathrooms, Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Boninite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Soapstone and Boninite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Soapstone in construction industry include Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories and that of Boninite include As a flux in the production of steel and pig iron, As a sintering agent in steel industry to process iron ore, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories.
More about Soapstone and Boninite
Here you can know more about Soapstone and Boninite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Soapstone and Boninite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Soapstone includes Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz and mineral content of Boninite includes Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Soapstone vs Boninite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors whereas, Boninite is available in bluish - grey, brown, colourless, green, grey colors. Appearance of Soapstone is Dull, Banded and Foilated and that of Boninite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Soapstone vs Boninite. The hardness of Soapstone is 1 and that of Boninite is 7. The types of Soapstone are Not Available whereas types of Boninite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Soapstone is black while that of Boninite is white. The specific heat capacity of Soapstone is 0.88 kJ/Kg K and that of Boninite is Not Available. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Soapstone is heat resistant, pressure resistant whereas Boninite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.