1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Gritstone or grit is a hard, coarse-grained, siliceous sandstone
Gossan is intensely oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock, usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein.
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
Pennines, England
Indonesia
1.2.2 Discoverer
J.J. Ferber
Cornish Gossen
1.3 Etymology
From Grit + Stone
From Cornish gossen from gos, blood from Old Cornish guit
1.4 Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
1.6 Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
2.2 Color
Beige, Black, Brown, Colourless, Cream, Dark Brown, Green, Grey, Light Green, Light to Dark Grey, Pink, Red, White, Yellow
Brown, Brown- Black, Gold, Green, Rust
2.3 Maintenance
2.4 Durability
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
Layered and Foliated
Dull and Banded
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
Construction Aggregate, Roadstone
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As a Feed Additive for Livestock, Gemstone, Metallurgical Flux, Production of Lime, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Tombstones
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Gemstone
4 Types
4.1 Types
Not Available
Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan
4.2 Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
Not Applicable
4.3.3 Sculpture
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Not Applicable
4.3.5 Pictographs
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
4.3.7 Figurines
4.4 Fossils
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
Gritstone is a type of sedimentary rock which was formed on the floors of wide river deltas where the grit deposits were laid down, with every tide or flood dumping another layer of sediment.
Earth movements can cause rocks to be either deeply buried or squeezed and hence the rocks are heated and put under great pressure.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay Minerals, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon
5.2.2 Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Fe, FeO, Silicon Dioxide, Sulphur
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
5.3.3 Weathering
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Not Applicable
5.3.5 Erosion
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
6.1.2 Grain Size
Coarse Grained
Fine to Medium Grained
6.1.3 Fracture
6.1.4 Streak
6.1.5 Porosity
Highly Porous
Highly Porous
6.1.6 Luster
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
6.1.8 Cleavage
6.1.9 Toughness
Not Available
Not Available
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
6.1.11 Transparency
6.1.12 Density
2.2 g/cm3Not Available
0
1400
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K0.24 kJ/Kg K
0.14
3.2
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Uzbekistan
China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea
7.1.2 Africa
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
7.1.3 Europe
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Albania, France, Germany, Great Britain, United Kingdom
7.1.4 Others
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
7.2.2 South America
Brazil
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia
New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia