Amphibolite and Skarn

Amphibolite

Skarn

Definition

Amphibolite can be defined as a granular metamorphic rock which mainly consist of hornblende and plagioclase

Skarns are formed during regional or contact metamorphism and from a variety of metasomatic processes involving fluids of magmatic, metamorphic, and/or marine origin

History

Origin

Unknown

USA, Australia

Discoverer

Alexandre Brongniart

Tornebohm

Etymology

From Amphibole + -ite

From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Banded, Foliated, Massive

Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough

Color

Black, Brown, Green, Grey

Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Foliated

Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Office Buildings

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Roadstone

As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Gold and Silver production, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Not Applicable

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)

Types

Hornblendite

Endoskarns

Features

Clasts are smooth to touch, Matrix variable, Surfaces are often shiny

Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Amphibolite is a coarse-grained metamorphic rock which forms by metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks like basalt and gabbro or from the metamorphism of clay-rich sedimentary rocks like marl or graywacke.

Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Skarn is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.

Composition

Mineral Content

Amphibole, Andalusite, Biotite, Calcite, Epidote, Garnet, Hornblade, Kyanite, Magnetite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Staurolite, Wollastonite

Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite

Compound Content

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

Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

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

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Not Applicable

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion

Not Applicable

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

6.5

Grain Size

Medium to Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Irregular to Conchoidal

Irregular

Streak

White to Grey

Light to dark brown

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Vitreous to Dull

Waxy and Dull

Cleavage

Irregular

Slaty

Toughness

2.3

2.4

Specific Gravity

2.5

2.86

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.85-3.07 g/cm³

2.8-2.9 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Russia, Turkey

China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka

Africa

Burundi, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Madagascar, Rwanda, Somalia, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

South Africa, Western Africa

Europe

Germany, Greece, Iceland, Norway, Poland

United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

Canada

South America

Brazil

Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

South Australia, Western Australia

Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Amphibolite and Skarn Properties

Know all about Amphibolite and Skarn properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Amphibolite and Skarn belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Amphibolite is Banded, Foliated, Massive whereas that of Skarn is Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough. Amphibolite appears Foliated and Skarn appears Dull. The luster of Amphibolite is vitreous to dull while that of Skarn is waxy and dull. Amphibolite is available in black, brown, green, grey colors whereas Skarn is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Amphibolite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Skarn are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, metallurgical flux, source of magnesia (mgo).