Definition
Flint is a hard type of sedimentary rock that produces a small piece of burning material when hit by steel
  
Gossan is intensely oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock, usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein.
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
Indonesia
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Cornish Gossen
  
Etymology
From Old English flint - a type of rock mainly known for high hardness and for giving off sparks when struck
  
From Cornish gossen from gos, blood from Old Cornish guit
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Banded, Rough
  
Rough, Sandy
  
Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
  
Brown, Brown- Black, Gold, Green, Rust
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Glassy or Pearly
  
Dull and Banded
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Spear Points
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Manufacture of tools, Metallurgical Flux, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms
  
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Gemstone
  
Types
Not Available
  
Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan
  
Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate
  
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Absent
  
Formation
Flint is formed by the decomposition and compaction of various organisms such as sponges and diatoms under the water.
  
Earth movements can cause rocks to be either deeply buried or squeezed and hence the rocks are heated and put under great pressure.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Silicon
  
Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon
  
Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Fe, FeO, Silicon Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
No
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
7
  
4-5
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Fine to Medium Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White to Grey
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Vitreous
  
Metallic
  
Compressive Strength
450.00 N/mm
2
  
1
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
1.5
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8
  
2.0
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.7-2.71 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.74 kJ/Kg K
  
19
0.24 kJ/Kg K
  
24
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Azerbaijan, China, Russia
  
China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea
  
Africa
Not Yet Found
  
Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
  
Europe
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom
  
Albania, France, Germany, Great Britain, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Bolivia
  
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New Zealand, South Australia
  
New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Flint vs Gossan 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. Flint vs Gossan characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Flint and Properties of Gossan. Learn more about Flint vs Gossan in the next section. The interior uses of Flint include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Gossan include Countertops, Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Flint and Gossan, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Flint in construction industry include Arrowheads, Cutting tool, Spear points and that of Gossan include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate.
More about Flint and Gossan
Here you can know more about Flint and Gossan. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Flint and Gossan consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Flint includes Silicon and mineral content of Gossan includes Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Flint vs Gossan, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Flint is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors whereas, Gossan is available in brown, brown- black, gold, green, rust colors. Appearance of Flint is Glassy or Pearly and that of Gossan is Dull and Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Flint vs Gossan. The hardness of Flint is 7 and that of Gossan is 4-5. The types of Flint are Not Available whereas types of Gossan are Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Flint is white while that of Gossan is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Flint is 0.74 kJ/Kg K and that of Gossan is 0.24 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Flint is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Gossan is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.