Definition
Harzburgite is a plutonic rock of the peridotite group consisting largely of orthopyroxene and olivine
  
Gossan is intensely oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock, usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein.
  
History
  
  
Origin
Germany
  
Indonesia
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Cornish Gossen
  
Etymology
From the name of a town in Harzburg, Germany
  
From Cornish gossen from gos, blood from Old Cornish guit
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Plutonic
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Phaneritic
  
Rough, Sandy
  
Color
Dark Greenish - Grey
  
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
Rough and Shiny
  
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
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Source of Chromite, Platinum, Nickel and Garnet, Source of Diamonds
  
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Gemstone
  
Types
Not Available
  
Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan
  
Features
Constitutes upper part of the Earth's mantle, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Harzburgite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.
  
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
Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene
  
Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon
  
Compound Content
Ca, Fe, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium, Titanium Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Fe, FeO, Silicon Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Impact Metamorphism
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5.5-6
  
4-5
  
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
  
Fine to Medium Grained
  
Fracture
Irregular
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White to Grey
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Shiny
  
Metallic
  
Cleavage
Imperfect
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
2.1
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
3-3.01
  
2.0
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
3.1-3.4 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
1.25 kJ/Kg K
  
6
0.24 kJ/Kg K
  
24
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Japan, Oman
  
China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea
  
Africa
South Africa
  
Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
  
Europe
France, Germany, Italy, Venezuela
  
Albania, France, Germany, Great Britain, United Kingdom
  
Others
Hawaii Islands, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Not Yet Found
  
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Not Yet Found
  
New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Harzburgite 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. Harzburgite vs Gossan characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Harzburgite and Properties of Gossan. Learn more about Harzburgite vs Gossan in the next section. The interior uses of Harzburgite 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 Harzburgite and Gossan, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Harzburgite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cobblestones and that of Gossan include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate.
More about Harzburgite and Gossan
Here you can know more about Harzburgite and Gossan. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Harzburgite and Gossan consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Harzburgite includes Amphibole, Chromite, Garnet, Magnesium, Olivine, Phlogopite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene 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 Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Harzburgite vs Gossan, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Harzburgite is available in dark greenish - grey colors whereas, Gossan is available in brown, brown- black, gold, green, rust colors. Appearance of Harzburgite is Rough and Shiny and that of Gossan is Dull and Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Harzburgite vs Gossan. The hardness of Harzburgite is 5.5-6 and that of Gossan is 4-5. The types of Harzburgite 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 Harzburgite is white while that of Gossan is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Harzburgite is 1.25 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.Harzburgite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Gossan is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.