Definition
Gossan is intensely oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock, usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein.
A sedimentary rock, deposit of a submarine turbidity currents and are composed of layered particles
Origin
Indonesia
European Foreland Basins
Discoverer
Cornish Gossen
Arnold H. Bouma
Etymology
From Cornish gossen from gos, blood from Old Cornish guit
From Medieval Latin turbiditas, from Latin turbidus (turbid). Turbidity current is from 1939
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Rough, Sandy
Mud-rich, Sandy
Color
Brown, Brown- Black, Gold, Green, Rust
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Pink
Durability
Durable
Durable
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Dull and Banded
Dull and Banded
Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Gemstone
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Types
Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan
Sedimentary rock
Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates
High silica content, Host Rock for Lead
Archaeological Significance
Formation
Earth movements can cause rocks to be either deeply buried or squeezed and hence the rocks are heated and put under great pressure.
Turbidite is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock as it flows. These particles then settle down and are subjected to high temperature and pressures hence forming Turbidite.
Mineral Content
Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon
Coesite, Quartz, Sand
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Fe, FeO, Silicon Dioxide, Sulphur
CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO
Types of Metamorphism
-
-
Types of Weathering
-
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Grain Size
Fine to Medium Grained
Fine to Coarse Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal
Splintery
Streak
White to Grey
White, Greenish White or Grey
Porosity
Highly Porous
Very Less Porous
Specific Gravity
2.0
2.46-2.73
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
-9999 g/cm3
1.6-2.5 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Heat Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea
-
Africa
Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
Western Africa
Europe
Albania, France, Germany, Great Britain, United Kingdom
Austria, Belarus, Romania, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada, USA
South America
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador
Brazil, Colombia
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia
All about Gossan and Turbidite Properties
Know all about Gossan and Turbidite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gossan belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Turbidite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Gossan is Rough, Sandy whereas that of Turbidite is Mud-rich, Sandy. Gossan appears Dull and Banded and Turbidite appears Dull and Banded. The luster of Gossan and Turbidite is metallic. Gossan is available in brown, brown- black, gold, green, rust colors whereas Turbidite is available in black, brown, green, grey, pink colors. The commercial uses of Gossan are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, gemstone and that of Turbidite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.