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Syenite and Serpentinite


Serpentinite and Syenite


Definition

Definition
Syenite is a coarse-grained igneous rock which is composed mainly of alkali feldspar and various ferromagnesian minerals   
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'.   

History
  
  

Origin
Unknown   
USA   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From French syénite, from Latin Syenites (lapis ) (stone) of Syene   
From English word serpentinization.   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Plutonic   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Earthy   
Earthy   

Color
Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White   
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
No   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
No   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Banded and Foilated   
Rough and Dull   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories   
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines   
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork   
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork   

Types

Types
Shonkinite   
Jadeitite   

Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable   
Host Rock for Lead   

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

Formation
Syenites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.   
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.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz   
Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   
Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur   

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, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
No   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Not Applicable   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5.5-6   
3-5   

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Not Available   
Uneven   

Streak
White   
White, Greenish White or Grey   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Waxy and Dull   

Compressive Strength
150.00 N/mm2   
14
310.00 N/mm2   
2

Cleavage
Perfect   
Irregular   

Toughness
Not Available   
7   

Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7   
2.79-3   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.6-2.8 g/cm3   
2.5-3 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
0.95 kJ/Kg K   
9

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam   
India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea   

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

Europe
Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland   
England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada   

South America
Brazil, Chile   
Colombia   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia   
Central Australia, New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Syenite and Serpentinite Properties

Know all about Syenite and Serpentinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Syenite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Serpentinite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Syenite is Earthy whereas that of Serpentinite is Earthy. Syenite appears Banded and Foilated and Serpentinite appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Syenite is subvitreous to dull while that of Serpentinite is waxy and dull. Syenite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Serpentinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Syenite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Serpentinite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork.

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