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Anorthosite
Anorthosite

Skarn
Skarn



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Anorthosite
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Anorthosite vs Skarn

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Definition

Definition

Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or 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

-
USA, Australia

Discoverer

Unknown
Tornebohm

Etymology

From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.

Class

Igneous Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic
-

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture

Foliated, Glassy
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough

Color

Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White

Maintenance

Less
Less

Durability

Durable
Durable

Water Resistant

Scratch Resistant

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate
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

-
-

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

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

Types

Types

Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite
Endoskarns

Features

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

-
-

Famous Monuments

-
-

Sculpture

-
-

Famous Sculptures

-
-

Pictographs

-
-

Petroglyphs

-
-

Figurines

-
-

Fossils

Absent
Absent

Formation

Formation

Anorthosite is a phaneritic, intrusive igneous rock which is characterized by a predominance of plagioclase feldspar which is almost 90–100%, and a minimal mafic component.
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, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite

Compound Content

Ca, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO, Sulfur Trioxide
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO

Transformation

Metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism

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

Weathering

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering
-

Erosion

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion
-

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5-66.5
1 7
👆🏻

Grain Size

Coarse Grained
Fine Grained

Fracture

Irregular
Irregular

Streak

White
Light to dark brown

Porosity

Less Porous
Less Porous

Luster

Pearly to Subvitreous
Waxy and Dull

Compressive Strength

180.00 N/mm270.00 N/mm2
0.15 450
👆🏻

Cleavage

-
Slaty

Toughness

-
2.4

Specific Gravity

2.62-2.822.86
0 8.4
👆🏻

Transparency

Translucent
Opaque

Density

2.7-4 g/cm32.8-2.9 g/cm3
0 1400
👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.84 kJ/Kg K0.92 kJ/Kg K
0.14 3.2
👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

Africa

-
South Africa, Western Africa

Europe

Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Czech Republic
United Kingdom

Others

-
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada
Canada

South America

Bolivia, Colombia
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia

Anorthosite vs Skarn Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Anorthosite and Skarn Reserves. Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or 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. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Anorthosite vs Skarn information and Anorthosite vs Skarn characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Anorthosite vs Skarn 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. Anorthosite vs Skarn characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Anorthosite and Properties of Skarn. Learn more about Anorthosite vs Skarn in the next section. The interior uses of Anorthosite include Decorative aggregates, Floor tiles, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Skarn include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Anorthosite and Skarn, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Anorthosite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate and that of Skarn include 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.

More about Anorthosite and Skarn

Here you can know more about Anorthosite and Skarn. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Anorthosite and Skarn consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Anorthosite includes Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene and mineral content of Skarn includes Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Anorthosite vs Skarn, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Anorthosite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, green, grey, light greenish grey, pink, white colors whereas, Skarn is available in black, brown, green, grey, white colors. Appearance of Anorthosite is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and that of Skarn is Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Anorthosite vs Skarn. The hardness of Anorthosite is 5-6 and that of Skarn is 6.5. The types of Anorthosite are Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite whereas types of Skarn are Endoskarns. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Anorthosite is white while that of Skarn is light to dark brown. The specific heat capacity of Anorthosite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K and that of Skarn is 0.92 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Anorthosite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, scratch resistant, wear resistant whereas Skarn is heat resistant.