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Anorthosite vs Skarn


Skarn vs Anorthosite


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
Yes  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
No  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
No  
No  

Wind Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Acid Resistant
No  
Yes  

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
Yes  
Yes  

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

Weathering
Yes  
No  

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering  
-  

Erosion
Yes  
No  

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion  
-  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5-6  
6.5  

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/mm2  
18
70.00 N/mm2  
35

Cleavage
-  
Slaty  

Toughness
-  
2.4  

Specific Gravity
2.62-2.82  
2.86  

Transparency
Translucent  
Opaque  

Density
2.7-4 g/cm3  
2.8-2.9 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K  
15
0.92 kJ/Kg K  
10

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  

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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.

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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.

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