Definition
Anthracite is a type of sedimentary rock which is hard and is variety of coal that has high luster
Laterite rock is a type of Sedimentary rock which is rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas
Origin
Pennsylvania, U.S.
India
Discoverer
Unknown
Francis Buchanan-Hamilton
Etymology
From Greek anthrakites, from anthrax, anthrak meaning coal
From Latin later brick, tile + -ite1
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Amorphous, Glassy
Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic
Color
Black, Brown, Dark Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey
Brown, Buff, Red
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Veined or Pebbled
Rough and Banded
Interior Uses
-
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
-
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
Other Architectural Uses
-
Curbing
Construction Industry
Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel Production
Cobblestones, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
Medical Industry
In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Manufacture of Aspirins
-
Antiquity Uses
-
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Commercial Uses
Alumina Refineries, Electricity Generation, Liquid Fuel, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Paper Industry
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Source of bauxite, Used in aquariums
Types
Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite
Laterite
Features
Helps in production of Heat and Electricity, Used as fossil fuel
Is one of the oldest rock, Very fine grained rock
Archaeological Significance
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.
Laterite is a type of sedimentary rock which is generally a reddish weathering product of basalt.
Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals
Aluminum Oxides, Biotite, Hematite, Hornblade, Iron Oxides, Manganese Oxides, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, 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
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
-
Types of Weathering
-
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
Types of Erosion
-
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal
Conchoidal
Porosity
Less Porous
Highly Porous
Specific Gravity
1.1-1.4
-9999
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
1.25-2.5 g/cm3
-9999 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Water Resistant
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam
India
Africa
Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania
East Africa, Western Africa
Europe
Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Ukraine, United Kingdom
England, Romania, Scotland
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
Canada, USA
South America
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela
-
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria
Central Australia, Western Australia
Anthracite vs Laterite 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. Anthracite vs Laterite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Anthracite and Properties of Laterite. Learn more about Anthracite vs Laterite in the next section. The interior uses of Anthracite include whereas the interior uses of Laterite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Anthracite and Laterite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Anthracite in construction industry include Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel production and that of Laterite include Cobblestones, For road aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone.
More about Anthracite and Laterite
Here you can know more about Anthracite and Laterite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Anthracite and Laterite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Anthracite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals and mineral content of Laterite includes Aluminum Oxides, Biotite, Hematite, Hornblade, Iron Oxides, Manganese Oxides, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Anthracite vs Laterite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Anthracite is available in black, brown, dark brown, grey, light to dark grey colors whereas, Laterite is available in brown, buff, red colors. Appearance of Anthracite is Veined or Pebbled and that of Laterite is Rough and Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Anthracite vs Laterite. The hardness of Anthracite is 1-1.5 and that of Laterite is 2. The types of Anthracite are Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite whereas types of Laterite are Laterite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Anthracite is black while that of Laterite is white. The specific heat capacity of Anthracite is 1.32 kJ/Kg K and that of Laterite 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.Anthracite is heat resistant, water resistant whereas Laterite is heat resistant, pressure resistant.