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
Unknown
  
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
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Foliated, Glassy
  
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough
  
Color
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White
  
Black, Brown, Colourless, 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
  
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
Not Yet Used
  
Not Applicable
  
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
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
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
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
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Not Applicable
  
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
  
Cleavage
Irregular
  
Slaty
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
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
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Not Yet Found
  
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka
  
Africa
Not Yet Found
  
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
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
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 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, colourless, 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.