Definition
A sedimentary rock, deposit of a submarine turbidity currents and are composed of layered particles
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
Origin
European Foreland Basins
France
Discoverer
Arnold H. Bouma
Unknown
Etymology
From Medieval Latin turbiditas, from Latin turbidus (turbid). Turbidity current is from 1939
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Igneous Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Opaque Rock
Texture
Mud-rich, Sandy
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular
Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Pink
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey
Durability
Durable
Durable
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Dull and Banded
Dull and Soft
Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Types
Sedimentary rock
Metamorphic rock
Features
High silica content, Host Rock for Lead
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
Archaeological Significance
Formation
Turbidite is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock as it flows. These particles then settle down and are subjected to high temperature and pressures hence forming Turbidite.
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks that exhibit pale colored spots on weathered surfaces that give them a pockmarked appearance.
Mineral Content
Coesite, Quartz, Sand
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
Compound Content
CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Types of Metamorphism
-
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
-
Grain Size
Fine to Coarse Grained
-
Fracture
Splintery
Conchoidal
Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey
White to Grey
Porosity
Very Less Porous
Less Porous
Specific Gravity
2.46-2.73
2.8-3
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
1.6-2.5 g/cm3
2.9-3.1 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Africa
Western Africa
South Africa
Europe
Austria, Belarus, Romania, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Iceland
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada, USA
South America
Brazil, Colombia
Brazil
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia
-
Turbidite 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. Turbidite vs Variolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Turbidite and Properties of Variolite. Learn more about Turbidite vs Variolite in the next section. The interior uses of Turbidite include Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Flooring, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Variolite include Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Turbidite and Variolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Turbidite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Making natural cement and that of Variolite include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.
More about Turbidite and Variolite
Here you can know more about Turbidite and Variolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Turbidite and Variolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Turbidite includes Coesite, Quartz, Sand and mineral content of Variolite includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Turbidite vs Variolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Turbidite is available in black, brown, green, grey, pink colors whereas, Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Turbidite is Dull and Banded and that of Variolite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Turbidite vs Variolite. The hardness of Turbidite is 3 and that of Variolite is 6. The types of Turbidite are Sedimentary 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 Turbidite is white, greenish white or grey while that of Variolite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Turbidite is 0.92 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.Turbidite is heat resistant whereas Variolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.