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What is Serpentinite?



Definition

Definition
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
USA

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
From English word serpentinization.

Class
Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group
-

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Earthy

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
No

Stain Resistant
Yes

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
No

Appearance
Rough and Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Types
Jadeitite

Features
Host Rock for Lead

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
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
Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides

Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Weathering
No

Types of Weathering
-

Erosion
Yes

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

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
3-5

Grain Size
Very fine-grained

Fracture
Uneven

Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Waxy and Dull

Compressive Strength
310.00 N/mm2 2

Cleavage
-

Toughness
7

Specific Gravity
2.79-3

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.5-3 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.95 kJ/Kg K 9

Resistance
Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea

Africa
Ethiopia, Western Africa

Europe
England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada

South America
Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Metamorphic Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Serpentinite

What is Serpentinite? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Serpentinite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Serpentinite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Serpentinite is 310.00 N/mm2. Streak of Serpentinite is white, greenish white or grey while its cleavage is . Luster of Serpentinite is waxy and dull and its fracture is uneven. Serpentinite is opaque in nature. Know all about Serpentinite, What is Serpentinite, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Serpentinite

What is Serpentinite composed of? Get to know about composition of Serpentinite here. Serpentinite definition gives information about the Formation of Serpentinite and its composition.The composition of Serpentinite can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Serpentinite rock includes Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides and The compound content of Serpentinite rock includes Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Serpentinite rock in next section.

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