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What is Lherzolite?



Definition

Definition
Lherzolite is a type of ultramafic igneous rock which contains essential olivine and clinopyroxene and orthopyroxene in equal proportions

History

Origin
France

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
From the Lherz Massif, an alpine peridotite complex, at Étang de Lers, near Massat in the French Pyrenees; Lherz is the archaic spelling of this location

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Plutonic

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Grenue

Color
Black, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Pink, Purple

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
No

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Glassy, Vesicular and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
Landscaping, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
As armour rock for sea walls, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Used in aquariums

Types

Types
Garnet Lherzolite

Features
Host Rock for Lead

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Lherzolite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.

Composition

Mineral Content
Harzburgite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite

Compound Content
CaO, Cr, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6.5

Grain Size
Fine Grained

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
White

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength
290.00 N/mm2 3

Cleavage
Perfect

Toughness
2.7

Specific Gravity
2.86

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.95 kJ/Kg K 9

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
Russia, South Korea

Africa
Western Africa

Europe
United Kingdom

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
USA

South America
-

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Lherzolite

What is Lherzolite? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Lherzolite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Lherzolite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Lherzolite is 290.00 N/mm2. Streak of Lherzolite is white while its cleavage is perfect. Luster of Lherzolite is subvitreous to dull and its fracture is conchoidal. Lherzolite is opaque in nature. Know all about Lherzolite, What is Lherzolite, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Lherzolite

What is Lherzolite composed of? Get to know about composition of Lherzolite here. Lherzolite definition gives information about the Formation of Lherzolite and its composition.The composition of Lherzolite can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Lherzolite rock includes Harzburgite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite and The compound content of Lherzolite rock includes CaO, Cr, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Lherzolite rock in next section.

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