There are many types of rocks that make up the constituent parts of the ocean crust. These rocks are then further broken down into smaller pieces called stones or pebbles. These stones can still be found under the earth's crust. Some can be seen in the deep parts of the seabed. Others end up on beaches or shorelines by the waves that carry them. Here are 15 types of ocean rocks along with a brief explanation of each of them.
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1. Achatstein
The agate stone is often found between the coasts. It is made of a silica called chalcedony. The stone is smooth. It is available in a variety of colors. The colors and patterns on the stone depend on its origin. The overall mineral component, pressure and temperature affect a large part of the agate stone's appearance. There are usually parallel lines on the stone.
Apart from that, agate stone is mostly translucent. Regardless of the color of the stone, the stone will appear shiny because light can penetrate through the stone.
2. Serpentinit-Stein
The serpentinite stone is named as such because the stone's appearance resembles the patterns on a snake's skin. The stone consists of minerals such as magnesium and iron. The formation process of this stone is called serpentinization. Serpentinization is when water is involved with the minerals of the stone in its formation.
This process often takes place on the sea floor near the boundaries of the tectonic plates. The color of the serpentinite stone is usually green. Others might come in yellow, gray, brown, or even black.
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3. Chlorastrolith-Stein
The Chlorastrolite stone is also known as Isle Royale Greenstone. The color of the chloroastrolite stone is a dark shade of green. The pattern on the stone resembles a turtle's shell. The Chlorastrolite stone is formed from volcanic lava. Over time, the texture is smoothed by the ocean waves.
It ends at most shorelines of beaches. The surface of this stone can be opaque, but at times it can be quite translucent. Most chlorastrolite stones are small. It is rare to find this type of stone in a giant shape.
4. Jaspis-Stein
Jasper is a stone with a pattern of spots. The color of the stone is usually red. However, the jasper stone can also be found in the color yellow, green or brown. The appearance of this stone is opaque.
The jasper stone is made from minerals such as iron and chalcedony. Many people try to find the jasper stone to smooth it even further. Then the stone is often used as an ornament or even turned into a vase.
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5. Schieferstein
The slate stone is made from different types of minerals. These minerals include talc, graphite, mica, and chlorite.
The formation of slates occurs only at high temperatures. The shale stone is further divided into different types depending on which mineral is the most dominant in the stone.
Apparently the mica schist is the most abundant than the other types. In the stone, the grains can be observed with the naked eye. The grains are created by the pressure and heat applied during formation.
6. Sandstone
Sandstone is a stone composed of small mineral particles. It consists of a cement-like component that holds all of its minerals together. The cement component could be either silica or calcium carbonate. The color of the sandstone varies. It can be brown, red, pink, grey, white, yellow or black.
Most sandstones are formed when sand is accumulated in various places. One of the locations could be in the sea water. Once all the sand has settled, the pressure will make it more compact.
7. Petrified Wood Stone
Petrified wood is made from the remains of a tree or plant. The vegetation turned into stone through the process of permineralization. Permineralization is the process in which the wood residues are petrified by minerals. The stone is neither light nor translucent as no light can penetrate through the stone.
The petrified wood stone is a very solid stone and is always opaque. The color of the stone is usually gray or very light brown. The pattern of the stone can be recognized by parallel lines.
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8. Feldspatstein
Feldspars consist of the magma of a volcano. As the magma begins to crystallize, it forms veins on the rock.
Other components of the stone are potassium and aluminum silicates. The minerals inside the feldspar rocks actually make up a large part of the continental crusts.
They make up 41% of the crusts. The color of a feldspar stone can be pink, white, brown, or gray. The stone has white stripes on it.
9. Conglomerates
A conglomerate stone has the components clay, silt or different types of sand. These different components are a mixture called the "matrix".
In addition, the mixtures are held together by other elements. Elements include silica, calcium carbonate, iron oxide or clay. The formation of the conglomerate stone begins with a normal sized pebble.
Then more sand and clay fill in the interstices of the stone, which are then bonded together. Conglomerate rocks are found furthest from water, particularly on beaches where strong waves carry sediment. The strong waves also shape the conglomerate stone more rounded.
10. Basaltstein
Basalt stone formation occurs when lava is subjected to rapid cooling. The basic composition of basalt stone is silica. The stone plays an important role in the structure of the sea crust. It also makes up part of many volcanic rocks on many islands. The color of basalt stone usually varies from gray to black.
However, it has the ability to turn brown when oxidized because it also contains iron. The most common place where the basalt rock can be found is in the depths of the sea floor.
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11. Gabbro-Stein
Gabbro stone is a dark stone that resembles basalt. Gabbro stone formation occurs when a magma cools beneath the earth's surface. Thus, it also makes up the component of the sea crust. The gabbro rock forms most of the crust in mid-oceanGrate. Gabbro stones are made up of nickel, cobalt, silver, gold, platinum, chromium and copper.
The surface of gabbro stone is usually rough with grains visible to the naked eye. The usual color of gabbro stone is dark gray.
12. Diabasstein
Diabase stone is also widely known as dolerite stone. The stone contains a high amount of crystals and minerals. Some of the minerals are chalcopyrite, chlorite, serpentine and calcite. Apart from these elements, the diabase stone also contains tachylite. Tachylite is a volcanic glass formed by rapid cooling. The color of tachylite glass is brown or black with a luster.
The diabase stone can be found in many places near mountains, oceans, lakes and shoals. The diabase stone has many uses such as building roads, dams and railways.
13. Granitstein
Granite rock is formed when magma slowly crystallizes beneath the earth's surface. Granite stone is mainly composed of quartz, mica and some other types of minerals. These components give the granite stone a wide range of colors. Granite stone can be grey, white, red or pink. The grains on the stone are visible when looking at it with the naked eye.
The granite stone naturally emits radiation. Some have lower radiation rates while others have high rates, which is a cause for concern.
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14. Budleigh Salterton Quarzitstein
This type of stone is very popular. The common colors of Budleigh-Salterton quartzite stone are purple, red, or white. The red color of this type of stone depends on how much oxidation occurs. This stone has a tough and solid structure. It is cemented so firmly that even metal cannot scratch the surface of the stone.
There are grains on the Budleigh Salterton quartzite stone. The grains of sand are fine grains that appear mostly white, but may have darker hues.
15. Flint
The flint consists mainly of silica and chalk. The stone is easily recognized by the rings that form on the surface of the stone. The rings or bands are caused by the silica.
The grit on the flint is smooth. In addition, the stone is hard and has a structure that looks like a shell. The color of the flint is gray or brownish. There are usually many cracks on the flint. The cracks are caused by the constant pressure and impact of the sea waves.
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Although some of these stones are quite rare or can only be found in certain locations, you can still encounter most of them. Next time you visit the beach you might have a chance to find one.
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