Definition
Pumice is a volcanic rock that consists of highly vesicular rough textured volcanic glass, which may or may not contain crystals
  
Shonkinite is a rare, dark-coloured and intrusive igneous rock which contains augite and orthoclase feldspar as its primary constituents
  
History
  
  
Origin
Spain
  
USA
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Old French pomis, from a Latin dialect variant of pumex
  
From the name of Shonkin Sag ranges in the Highwood Mountains of north-central Montana, US
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Volcanic
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Vesicular
  
Earthy
  
Color
Beige, Colourless, Grey, Light Green, Light Grey, Pink, White, Yellow- grey
  
Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Vesicular
  
Banded and Foilated
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing, Powder
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, In landscaping and horticulture, Making natural cement, Production of lightweight concrete blocks
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
Medical Industry
As an abrasive in skin exfoliating products, In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Medicines and Cosmetics
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
As a traction material on snow-covered roads, As an abrasive in pencil erasers, Fine abrasive used for polishing, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Used in aquariums
  
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Scoria
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead
  
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Absent
  
Formation
Pumice rock forms when the magma cools so quickly that atoms in the melt are not able to arrange themselves into a crystalline structure.
  
Shonkinites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Aluminum Oxides, Calcite, Carbonate, Iron Oxides, Silica
  
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
  
Compound Content
Al, Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
6
  
5.5-6
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Planar
  
Not Available
  
Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey
  
White
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Earthy
  
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Compressive Strength
51.20 N/mm2
  
26
150.00 N/mm2
  
14
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
3
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
2.6-2.7
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
0.25-0.3 g/cm3
  
2.6-2.8 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.87 kJ/Kg K
  
14
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Resistance
Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
  
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
  
Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania
  
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
  
Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
  
Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Bahamas, Barbados, Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Jamaica, Mexico, USA
  
USA
  
South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
  
Brazil, Chile
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia
  
New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Pumice vs Shonkinite 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. Pumice vs Shonkinite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Pumice and Properties of Shonkinite. Learn more about Pumice vs Shonkinite in the next section. The interior uses of Pumice include Decorative aggregates, Flooring, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Shonkinite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Pumice and Shonkinite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Pumice in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, In landscaping and horticulture, Making natural cement, Production of lightweight concrete blocks and that of Shonkinite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories.
More about Pumice and Shonkinite
Here you can know more about Pumice and Shonkinite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Pumice and Shonkinite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Pumice includes Aluminum Oxides, Calcite, Carbonate, Iron Oxides, Silica and mineral content of Shonkinite includes Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Pumice vs Shonkinite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Pumice is available in beige, colourless, grey, light green, light grey, pink, white, yellow- grey colors whereas, Shonkinite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors. Appearance of Pumice is Vesicular and that of Shonkinite is Banded and Foilated. Properties of rock is another aspect for Pumice vs Shonkinite. The hardness of Pumice is 6 and that of Shonkinite is 5.5-6. The types of Pumice are Scoria whereas types of Shonkinite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Pumice and Shonkinite is white, greenish white or grey. The specific heat capacity of Pumice is 0.87 kJ/Kg K and that of Shonkinite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Pumice is impact resistant, pressure resistant whereas Shonkinite is heat resistant, impact resistant, wear resistant.