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Definition

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

History

Origin
France

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
From Latin varius, speckled, variegated

Class
Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
Volcanic

Other Categories
Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular

Color
Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
No

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Types
Metamorphic rock

Features
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

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.

Composition

Mineral Content
Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

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

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion
No

Types of Erosion
-

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6

Grain Size
-

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
White to Grey

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
-

Compressive Strength
37.50 N/mm2 41

Cleavage
-

Toughness
2.3

Specific Gravity
2.8-3

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.9-3.1 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K 15

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
India, Russia

Africa
South Africa

Europe
Iceland

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
-

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Igneous Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Variolite

What is Variolite? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Variolite i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Variolite include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Variolite is 37.50 N/mm2. Streak of Variolite is white to grey while its cleavage is . Luster of Variolite is and its fracture is conchoidal. Variolite is opaque in nature. Know all about Variolite, What is Variolite, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Variolite

What is Variolite composed of? Get to know about composition of Variolite here. Variolite definition gives information about the Formation of Variolite and its composition.The composition of Variolite can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Variolite rock includes Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene and The compound content of Variolite rock includes Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Variolite rock in next section.

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