Definition
Whiteschist is an uncommon rock type belonging to a class of metamorphic rock, this is formed at high-ultra-high pressures
  
Blueschist is a metamorphic rock which is generally blue in color and is formed under conditions of high pressure and low temperature
  
History
  
  
Origin
Tasmania
  
USA
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Edgar Bailey
  
Etymology
From French schiste, Greek skhistos i.e. split
  
From French schiste, Greek skhistos i.e. split
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Foliated
  
Foliated
  
Color
Colourless, Green, Grey, White
  
Blue, Bluish - Grey, Purple, Shades of Blue
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Banded and Foilated
  
Dull and Banded
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens
  
Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Not Yet Used
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
for Road Aggregate
  
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Production of Lime
  
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling, Tombstones
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
High percentage of mica, Host Rock for Lead
  
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Whiteschist is formed by dynamic metamorphism at high temperatures and pressures that aligns the grains of mica, hornblende and other elongated minerals into thin layers.
  
Blueschist forms due to the metamorphism of basalt and other rocks with similar composition at high pressures and low temperatures and approximately corresponding to a depth of 15 to 30 kilometers and 200 to 500 °C.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Carbonate, Coesite, Quartz, Silica
  
Albite, Chlorite, Epidote, Garnet, Glaucophane, Lawsonite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz
  
Compound Content
CaO, Mg, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
1.5
  
3.5-4
  
Grain Size
Fine to Medium Grained
  
Fine to Medium Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White to Grey
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Dull
  
Compressive Strength
200.00 N/mm
2
  
10
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Slaty
  
Toughness
1
  
1.5
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
3-3.2
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
  
Japan, Turkey
  
Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa
  
Egypt, Ethiopia, South Africa
  
Europe
Austria, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
  
France, Greece, Iceland
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA
  
USA
  
South America
Brazil, Colombia, Guyana
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland
  
New Zealand
  
Whiteschist vs Blueschist 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. Whiteschist vs Blueschist characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Whiteschist and Properties of Blueschist. Learn more about Whiteschist vs Blueschist in the next section. The interior uses of Whiteschist include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Blueschist include Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Whiteschist and Blueschist, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Whiteschist in construction industry include For road aggregate and that of Blueschist include As dimension stone, Cobblestones, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.
More about Whiteschist and Blueschist
Here you can know more about Whiteschist and Blueschist. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Whiteschist and Blueschist consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Whiteschist includes Carbonate, Coesite, Quartz, Silica and mineral content of Blueschist includes Albite, Chlorite, Epidote, Garnet, Glaucophane, Lawsonite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Whiteschist vs Blueschist, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Whiteschist is available in colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas, Blueschist is available in blue, bluish - grey, purple, shades of blue colors. Appearance of Whiteschist is Banded and Foilated and that of Blueschist is Dull and Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Whiteschist vs Blueschist. The hardness of Whiteschist is 1.5 and that of Blueschist is 3.5-4. The types of Whiteschist are Not Available whereas types of Blueschist are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Whiteschist is white while that of Blueschist is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Whiteschist is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Blueschist is Not Available. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Whiteschist is heat resistant whereas Blueschist is impact resistant, pressure resistant.