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Scoria and Laterite


Laterite and Scoria


Definition

Definition
Scoria is a dark-colored extrusive igneous rock with abundant round bubble-like cavities   
Laterite rock is a type of Sedimentary rock which is rich in iron and aluminium, formed in hot and wet tropical areas   

History
  
  

Origin
Unknown   
India   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Francis Buchanan-Hamilton   

Etymology
From late Middle English (denoting slag from molten metal), from Greek skōria refuse, from skōr dung   
From Latin later brick, tile + -ite1   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Vesicular   
Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic   

Color
Black, Brown, Dark Grey to Black, Red   
Brown, Buff, Red   

Maintenance
More   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
No   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Glassy and Vesicular   
Rough and Banded   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, In landscaping and drainage works   
Cobblestones, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
As a traction material on snow-covered roads, Creating Artwork, High-temperature insulation, In gas barbecue grills   
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Source of bauxite, Used in aquariums   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Not Available   

Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Generally rough to touch, Surfaces are often shiny   
Is one of the oldest rock, Very fine grained rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Sculpture
Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Present   

Formation

Formation
Scoria forms when magma containing huge amount of dissolved gas flows from a volcano during an eruption.   
Laterite is a type of sedimentary rock which is generally a reddish weathering product of basalt.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Feldspar, Hematite, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Quartz, Silica   
Aluminum Oxides, Biotite, Hematite, Hornblade, Iron Oxides, Manganese Oxides, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene   

Compound Content
Ca, NaCl   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5-6   
2   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Dull   

Cleavage
Perfect   
Not Applicable   

Toughness
2.1   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
Not Available   
Not Available   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
Not Available   
Not Available   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia   
India   

Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania   
East Africa, Western Africa   

Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey   
England, Romania, Scotland   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

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

South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia   
Central Australia, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Scoria and Laterite Properties

Know all about Scoria and Laterite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Scoria belongs to Igneous Rocks while Laterite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Scoria is Vesicular whereas that of Laterite is Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic. Scoria appears Glassy and Vesicular and Laterite appears Rough and Banded. The luster of Scoria is subvitreous to dull while that of Laterite is dull. Scoria is available in black, brown, dark grey to black, red colors whereas Laterite is available in brown, buff, red colors. The commercial uses of Scoria are as a traction material on snow-covered roads, creating artwork, high-temperature insulation, in gas barbecue grills and that of Laterite are an oil and gas reservoir, source of bauxite, used in aquariums.

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