Definition
Very fine grained fault rock which is composed of glassy matrix that often contains inclusions of wall-rock fragments.
  
Gossan is intensely oxidized, weathered or decomposed rock, usually the upper and exposed part of an ore deposit or mineral vein.
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Indonesia
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Cornish Gossen
  
Etymology
From pseudo- + tachylite, a glassy rock generated by frictional heat within faults.
  
From Cornish gossen from gos, blood from Old Cornish guit
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Quench
  
Rough, Sandy
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Brown, Brown- Black, Gold, Green, Rust
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Dull and Soft
  
Dull and Banded
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone
  
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Gemstone
  
Types
Not Available
  
Translocated gossan and Leakage gossan
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
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
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Pseudotachylite is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.
  
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
Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides
  
Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon
  
Compound Content
Carbon Dioxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Fe, FeO, Silicon Dioxide, Sulphur
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
No
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
  
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
7
  
4-5
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Fine to Medium Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
Light to dark brown
  
White to Grey
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Vitreous
  
Metallic
  
Compressive Strength
60.00 N/mm
2
  
25
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Irregular
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.46-2.86
  
2.0
  
Transparency
Transparent to Translucent
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.7-2.9 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
0.24 kJ/Kg K
  
24
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
South Korea
  
China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea
  
Africa
Western Africa
  
Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
  
Europe
Great Britain, Switzerland
  
Albania, France, Germany, Great Britain, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Not Yet Found
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Not Yet Found
  
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Pseudotachylite 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. Pseudotachylite vs Gossan characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Pseudotachylite and Properties of Gossan. Learn more about Pseudotachylite vs Gossan in the next section. The interior uses of Pseudotachylite include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Gossan include Countertops, Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Pseudotachylite and Gossan, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Pseudotachylite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement and that of Gossan include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate.
More about Pseudotachylite and Gossan
Here you can know more about Pseudotachylite and Gossan. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Pseudotachylite and Gossan consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Pseudotachylite includes Iron Oxides, Pyroxene, Quartz, Stishovite, Sulfides 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 Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Pseudotachylite vs Gossan, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Pseudotachylite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas, Gossan is available in brown, brown- black, gold, green, rust colors. Appearance of Pseudotachylite is Dull and Soft and that of Gossan is Dull and Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Pseudotachylite vs Gossan. The hardness of Pseudotachylite is 7 and that of Gossan is 4-5. The types of Pseudotachylite 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 Pseudotachylite is light to dark brown while that of Gossan is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Pseudotachylite is 0.92 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.Pseudotachylite is heat resistant whereas Gossan is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.