Oolite

Skarn

Oolite and Skarn

Oolite

Skarn

Add ⊕

Definition

Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains which are composed of concentric layers of calcite

Skarns are formed during regional or contact metamorphism and from a variety of metasomatic processes involving fluids of magmatic, metamorphic, and/or marine origin

History

Origin

USA, Australia

Discoverer

William Smith

Tornebohm

Etymology

From oo- + -lite, after German Oolit. A rock consisting of fine grains of carbonate of lime

From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Clastic or Non-Clastic

Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough

Color

Black, Blue, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Silver, White, Yellow

Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Rounded and Rough

Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Landscaping

As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Gold and Silver production, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories

Medical Industry

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Used in aquariums

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)

Types

Pisolitic Oolite and Oncolitic Oolite

Endoskarns

Features

Available in lots of colors, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock

Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Present

Absent

Formation

Oolites form when layers of calcite are deposited around a sand grain or fossil piece and are rolled around in calm water, which makes them round.

Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Skarn is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.

Composition

Mineral Content

Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt

Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, Ca, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO

Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

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

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

3-46.5

1 7

👆🏻

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Irregular

Streak

White

Light to dark brown

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Pearly to Shiny

Waxy and Dull

Compressive Strength

40.00 N/mm²70.00 N/mm²

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Slaty

Toughness

2.4

Specific Gravity

-99992.86

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Opaque

Density

-9999 g/cm³2.8-2.9 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.65 kJ/Kg K0.92 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka

Africa

Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe

South Africa, Western Africa

Europe

United Kingdom

Others

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada

South America

Colombia

Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula

Central Australia, Western Australia

All about Oolite and Skarn Properties

Know all about Oolite and Skarn properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Oolite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Skarn belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Oolite is Clastic or Non-Clastic whereas that of Skarn is Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough. Oolite appears Rounded and Rough and Skarn appears Dull. The luster of Oolite is pearly to shiny while that of Skarn is waxy and dull. Oolite and Skarn are available in black, blue, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, silver, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Oolite are creating artwork, jewelry, used in aquariums and that of Skarn are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, metallurgical flux, source of magnesia (mgo).