Ignimbrite and Scoria

Ignimbrite

Scoria

Definition

Ignimbrite is a volcanic rock consisting mainly of pumice fragments, formed by the consolidation of material deposited by pyroclastic flows

Scoria is a dark-colored extrusive igneous rock with abundant round bubble-like cavities

History

Origin

New Zealand

Unknown

Discoverer

Patrick Marshall

Unknown

Etymology

From Latin ignis fire + imber, imbr- shower of rain, storm cloud + -ite

From late Middle English (denoting slag from molten metal), from Greek skōria refuse, from skōr dung

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Aphanitic

Vesicular

Color

Beige, Black, Brown, Grey, Pink, White

Black, Brown, Dark Grey to Black, Red

Maintenance

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Dull, Vesicular and Foilated

Glassy and Vesicular

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate

Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, In landscaping and drainage works

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

As a traction material on snow-covered roads, Creating Artwork, High-temperature insulation, In gas barbecue grills

Types

Not Available

Features

Always found as volcanic pipes over deep continental crust

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Generally rough to touch, Surfaces are often shiny

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Ignimbrites are formed from very poorly sorted mixture of volcanic ash or tuff and pumice lapilli, commonly with scattered lithic fragments.

Scoria forms when magma containing huge amount of dissolved gas flows from a volcano during an eruption.

Composition

Mineral Content

Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Hematite, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Quartz

Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Feldspar, Hematite, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Quartz, Silica

Compound Content

Ca, NaCl

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

4-6

5-6

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Fracture

Uneven

Conchoidal

Streak

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Vitreous to Dull

Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength

243.80 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Not Available

Perfect

Toughness

Not Available

2.1

Specific Gravity

2.73

Not Available

Transparency

Opaque

Density

1-1.8 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.20 kJ/Kg K

Not Available

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Afghanistan, Armenia, Azerbaijan, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Iran, Japan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Nepal, North Korea, Pakistan, Saudi Arabia, Syria, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam, Yemen

Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia

Africa

Cameroon, Cape Verde, Chad, Djibouti, Eritrea, Ethiopia, Kenya, Libya, Madagascar, Nigeria, Rwanda, South Africa, Sudan, Tanzania, Uganda

Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania

Europe

France, Georgia, Germany, Greece, Iceland, Italy, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey

Others

Antarctica, Hawaii Islands

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Costa Rica, Panama, USA

Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, USA

South America

Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador

Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Central Australia, Western Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Ignimbrite and Scoria Properties

Know all about Ignimbrite and Scoria properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Ignimbrite and Scoria belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Ignimbrite is Aphanitic whereas that of Scoria is Vesicular. Ignimbrite appears Dull, Vesicular and Foilated and Scoria appears Glassy and Vesicular. The luster of Ignimbrite is vitreous to dull while that of Scoria is subvitreous to dull. Ignimbrite is available in beige, black, brown, grey, pink, white colors whereas Scoria is available in black, brown, dark grey to black, red colors. The commercial uses of Ignimbrite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Scoria are as a traction material on snow-covered roads, creating artwork, high-temperature insulation, in gas barbecue grills.