Definition
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
Talc carbonate is nothing but a rock sequence or a mineral composition found in metamorphic ultramafic rocks.
Origin
France
China, USA, Middle east
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated
From medieval Latin, talcum
Class
Igneous Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Group
Volcanic
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular
Very Soft
Color
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey
Colourless, Grey, White
Durability
Durable
Durable
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Dull and Soft
Soft
Interior Uses
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Garden Decoration
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Powder
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
Source of calcium
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Manufacturing of baby powder
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Features
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
Easily splits into thin plates, Generally rough to touch, Host Rock for Lead
Archaeological Significance
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Petroglyphs
Used
Not Used
Formation
Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks that exhibit pale colored spots on weathered surfaces that give them a pockmarked appearance.
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Talc Carbonate is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.
Mineral Content
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
Carbonate, Chlorite, Magnesium
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO
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
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Not Applicable
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Grain Size
Not Applicable
Fine Grained
Streak
White to Grey
White
Porosity
Less Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Not Available
Pearly
Cleavage
Not Available
Perfect
Specific Gravity
2.8-3
2.86
Transparency
Opaque
Translucent
Density
2.9-3.1 g/cm3
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
India, Russia
Not Yet Found
Africa
South Africa
Ethiopia, Ghana, Western Africa
Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada, USA
South America
Brazil
Argentina, Bolivia, Uruguay
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Not Yet Found
Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia
Variolite vs Talc carbonate 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. Variolite vs Talc carbonate characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Variolite and Properties of Talc carbonate. Learn more about Variolite vs Talc carbonate in the next section. The interior uses of Variolite include Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens whereas the interior uses of Talc carbonate include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Variolite and Talc carbonate, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Variolite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone and that of Talc carbonate include Source of calcium.
More about Variolite and Talc carbonate
Here you can know more about Variolite and Talc carbonate. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Variolite and Talc carbonate consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Variolite includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene and mineral content of Talc carbonate includes Carbonate, Chlorite, Magnesium. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Variolite vs Talc carbonate, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Variolite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey colors whereas, Talc carbonate is available in colourless, grey, white colors. Appearance of Variolite is Dull and Soft and that of Talc carbonate is Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Variolite vs Talc carbonate. The hardness of Variolite is 6 and that of Talc carbonate is 1-2. The types of Variolite are Not Available whereas types of Talc carbonate are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Variolite is white to grey while that of Talc carbonate is white. The specific heat capacity of Variolite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Talc carbonate is 0.92 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Variolite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Talc carbonate is heat resistant, wear resistant.