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What is Pyroxenite?



Definition

Definition
Pyroxenite is a dark, greenish, granular intrusive igneous rock consisting mainly of pyroxenes and olivine

History

Origin
-

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
From pyro- fire + Greek xenos stranger as the mineral group was new to igneous rocks

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Plutonic

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Clastic, Granular, Phaneritic, Porphyritic

Color
Black to Grey, Bluish - Grey, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Light Greenish Grey

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration, Kitchens

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones

Types

Types
Clinopyroxenites, Orthopyroxenites and Websterites

Features
Generally rough to touch, Host rock for Diamond, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Pyroxenites are ultramafic igneous rocks which are made up of minerals of the pyroxene group, such as augite and diopside, hypersthene, bronzite or enstatite.

Composition

Mineral Content
Amphibole, Augite, Bronzite, Chromite, Diopside, Enstatite, Garnet, Hornblende, Hypersthene, Magnetite, Pyroxene

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
7

Grain Size
Coarse Grained

Fracture
Uneven

Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Dull to Vitreous to Submetallic

Compressive Strength
150.00 N/mm2 22

Cleavage
-

Toughness
-

Specific Gravity
3.2-3.5

Transparency
Opaque

Density
3.1-3.6 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K 15

Resistance
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
India, Russia

Africa
South Africa

Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey

Others
Greenland

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
New Zealand, Queensland

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Pyroxenite

What is Pyroxenite? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Pyroxenite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Pyroxenite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Pyroxenite is 150.00 N/mm2. Streak of Pyroxenite is white, greenish white or grey while its cleavage is . Luster of Pyroxenite is dull to vitreous to submetallic and its fracture is uneven. Pyroxenite is opaque in nature. Know all about Pyroxenite, What is Pyroxenite, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Pyroxenite

What is Pyroxenite composed of? Get to know about composition of Pyroxenite here. Pyroxenite definition gives information about the Formation of Pyroxenite and its composition.The composition of Pyroxenite can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Pyroxenite rock includes Amphibole, Augite, Bronzite, Chromite, Diopside, Enstatite, Garnet, Hornblende, Hypersthene, Magnetite, Pyroxene and The compound content of Pyroxenite rock includes Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Pyroxenite rock in next section.

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