Gossan and Banded iron formation

Gossan

Definition

Gossan is intensely oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock, usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein.

Banded iron formation are distinctive units of sedimentary rock that are almost always of Precambrian age

History

Origin

Indonesia

Western Australia, Minnesota

Discoverer

Cornish Gossen

Unknown

Etymology

From Cornish gossen from gos, blood from Old Cornish guit

From its formation process

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Rough, Sandy

Banded, Trellis

Color

Brown, Brown- Black, Gold, Green, Rust

Red, Reddish Brown

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Dull and Banded

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Paving Stone, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Curbing, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

As Dimension Stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Gemstone

As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan

Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite

Features

Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Absent

Present

Formation

Earth movements can cause rocks to be either deeply buried or squeezed and hence the rocks are heated and put under great pressure.

The banded iron layers are formed in sea water when oxygen is released by photosynthetic cyano-bacteria. The oxygen then combines with dissolved iron in ocean to form insoluble iron oxides, which precipitated out, forming a thin layer of banded iron formation on ocean floor.

Composition

Mineral Content

Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon

Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Fe, FeO, Silicon Dioxide, Sulphur

Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Not Applicable

Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

4-5

5.5-6

Grain Size

Fine to Medium Grained

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Streak

White to Grey

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Metallic

Earthy

Cleavage

Not Available

Imperfect

Toughness

Not Available

1.5

Specific Gravity

2.0

5.0-5.3

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.24 kJ/Kg K

3.20 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea

China, India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Africa

Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

Albania, France, Germany, Great Britain, United Kingdom

Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

Canada, Mexico, USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador

Bolivia, Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Gossan and Banded iron formation Properties

Know all about Gossan and Banded iron formation properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gossan belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Banded iron formation belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Gossan is Rough, Sandy whereas that of Banded iron formation is Banded, Trellis. Gossan appears Dull and Banded and Banded iron formation appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Gossan is metallic while that of Banded iron formation is earthy. Gossan is available in brown, brown- black, gold, green, rust colors whereas Banded iron formation is available in red, reddish brown colors. The commercial uses of Gossan are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, gemstone and that of Banded iron formation are as a touchstone, cemetery markers, creating artwork.