Anthracite

Variolite

Anthracite and Variolite

Anthracite

Variolite

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Definition

Anthracite is a type of sedimentary rock which is hard and is variety of coal that has high luster

Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks which exhibit pale colored spots, or spherules, especially on weathered surfaces, that give them a pockmarked appearance

History

Origin

Pennsylvania, U.S.

France

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From Greek anthrakites, from anthrax, anthrak meaning coal

From Latin varius, speckled, variegated

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Other Categories

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

Opaque Rock

Texture

Amorphous, Glassy

Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular

Color

Black, Brown, Dark Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Veined or Pebbled

Dull and Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens

Exterior Uses

Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel Production

As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone

Medical Industry

In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Manufacture of Aspirins

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Alumina Refineries, Electricity Generation, Liquid Fuel, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Paper Industry

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite

Metamorphic rock

Features

Helps in production of Heat and Electricity, Used as fossil fuel

Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Anthracite forms from the accumulation of plant debris in a swamp environment. When plant debris dies and falls into the swamp, the standing water of the swamp protects it from decay.

Variolites are a group of dark green basic igneous rocks that exhibit pale colored spots on weathered surfaces that give them a pockmarked appearance.

Composition

Mineral Content

Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals

Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

Compound Content

Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

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

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

1-1.56

1 7

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Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Streak

Black

White to Grey

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Shiny

Compressive Strength

-37.50 N/mm²

0.15 450

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Cleavage

Toughness

2.3

Specific Gravity

1.1-1.42.8-3

0 8.4

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Transparency

Opaque

Density

1.25-2.5 g/cm³2.9-3.1 g/cm³

0 1400

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Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

1.32 kJ/Kg K0.84 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Water Resistant

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam

India, Russia

Africa

Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania

South Africa

Europe

Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Ukraine, United Kingdom

Iceland

Others

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela

Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

All about Anthracite and Variolite Properties

Know all about Anthracite and Variolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Anthracite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Variolite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Anthracite is Amorphous, Glassy whereas that of Variolite is Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular. Anthracite appears Veined or Pebbled and Variolite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Anthracite is shiny while that of Variolite is . Anthracite and Variolite are available in black, brown, dark brown, grey, light to dark grey colors. The commercial uses of Anthracite are alumina refineries, electricity generation, liquid fuel, manufacture of soap, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibres, paper industry and that of Variolite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.