Anthracite

Obsidian

Anthracite vs Obsidian

Anthracite

Obsidian

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1 Definition

1.1 Definition

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

Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth

1.2 History

1.2.1 Origin

Pennsylvania, U.S.

Ethiopia

1.2.2 Discoverer

Unknown

Obsius

1.3 Etymology

From Greek anthrakites, from anthrax, anthrak meaning coal

From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius

1.4 Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rocks

1.4.1 Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

1.5 Family

1.5.1 Group

Not Applicable

Volcanic

1.6 Other Categories

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

Opaque Rock

2 Texture

2.1 Texture

Amorphous, Glassy

Glassy

2.2 Color

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

Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow

2.3 Maintenance

Less

2.4 Durability

Durable

2.4.1 Water Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.2 Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.3 Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.4 Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.5 Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

2.5 Appearance

Veined or Pebbled

Shiny

3 Uses

3.1 Architecture

3.1.1 Interior Uses

Not Yet Used

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

3.1.2 Exterior Uses

Not Yet Used

Garden Decoration

3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses

Not Yet Used

3.2 Industry

3.2.1 Construction Industry

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

Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points

3.2.2 Medical Industry

In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Manufacture of Aspirins

Surgery

3.3 Antiquity Uses

Not Yet Used

Artifacts, Jewellery

3.4 Other Uses

3.4.1 Commercial Uses

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

Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums

4 Types

4.1 Types

Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite

Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian

4.2 Features

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

Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression

4.3 Archaeological Significance

4.3.1 Monuments

Not Yet Used

4.3.2 Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

4.3.3 Sculpture

Not Yet Used

4.3.4 Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

4.3.5 Pictographs

Used

4.3.6 Petroglyphs

Used

4.3.7 Figurines

Not Yet Used

4.4 Fossils

Absent

5 Formation

5.1 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.

When the lava is released from volcano, it undergoes a very rapid cooling which freezes the mechanisms of crystallization. The result is a volcanic glass with a uniform smooth texture.

5.2 Composition

5.2.1 Mineral Content

Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals

Not Available

5.2.2 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

5.3 Transformation

5.3.1 Metamorphism

✔ ✘

5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

5.3.3 Weathering

✔ ✘

5.3.4 Types of Weathering

Not Applicable

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

5.3.5 Erosion

✔ ✘

5.3.6 Types of Erosion

Not Applicable

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

6 Properties

6.1 Physical Properties

6.1.1 Hardness

1-1.55-5.5

1 7

6.1.2 Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Not Applicable

6.1.3 Fracture

Conchoidal

6.1.4 Streak

Black

White

6.1.5 Porosity

Less Porous

Very Less Porous

6.1.6 Luster

Shiny

Vitreous

6.1.7 Compressive Strength

NA0.15 N/mm²

0.15 450

6.1.8 Cleavage

Non-Existent

6.1.9 Toughness

Not Available

6.1.10 Specific Gravity

1.1-1.42.6-2.7

0 8.4

6.1.11 Transparency

Opaque

Translucent

6.1.12 Density

1.25-2.5 g/cm³2.6 g/cm³

0 1400

6.2 Thermal Properties

6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity

1.32 kJ/Kg K0.92 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

6.2.2 Resistance

Heat Resistant, Water Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

7 Reserves

7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents

7.1.1 Asia

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

Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia

7.1.2 Africa

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

Kenya

7.1.3 Europe

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

Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey

7.1.4 Others

Not Yet Found

7.2 Deposits in Western Continents

7.2.1 North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

7.2.2 South America

Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela

Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent

7.3.1 Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria

New Zealand

Anthracite vs Obsidian 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 Anthracite and Obsidian Reserves. Anthracite is a type of sedimentary rock which is hard and is variety of coal that has high luster. Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth. 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 Anthracite vs Obsidian information and Anthracite vs Obsidian characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Anthracite vs Obsidian 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 Obsidian characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Anthracite and Properties of Obsidian. Learn more about Anthracite vs Obsidian in the next section. The interior uses of Anthracite include Not yet used whereas the interior uses of Obsidian include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Anthracite and Obsidian, 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 Obsidian include Arrowheads, Cutting tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear points.

More about Anthracite and Obsidian

Here you can know more about Anthracite and Obsidian. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Anthracite and Obsidian consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Anthracite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals and mineral content of Obsidian is not available. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Anthracite vs Obsidian, 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, Obsidian is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors. Appearance of Anthracite is Veined or Pebbled and that of Obsidian is Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Anthracite vs Obsidian. The hardness of Anthracite is 1-1.5 and that of Obsidian is 5-5.5. The types of Anthracite are Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite whereas types of Obsidian are Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian. 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 Obsidian is white. The specific heat capacity of Anthracite is 1.32 kJ/Kg K and that of Obsidian 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 Obsidian is heat resistant, impact resistant.