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Scoria and Porphyry


Porphyry and Scoria


Definition

Definition
Scoria is a dark-colored extrusive igneous rock with abundant round bubble-like cavities   
Porphyry is a reddish-brown to purple igneous rock containing large phenocrysts of various minerals embedded in a fine-grained matrix   

History
  
  

Origin
Unknown   
Egypt   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From late Middle English (denoting slag from molten metal), from Greek skōria refuse, from skōr dung   
From Old French porfire, from Italian porfiro and in some cases directly from Latin porphyrites   

Class
Igneous Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Plutonic   

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

Texture

Texture
Vesicular   
Porphyritic   

Color
Black, Brown, Dark Grey to Black, Red   
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Red, Rust, White   

Maintenance
More   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Glassy and Vesicular   
Dull   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone   
Garden Decoration, Paving Stone   

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

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

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   
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Rhomb Porphyry   

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

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   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Scoria forms when magma containing huge amount of dissolved gas flows from a volcano during an eruption.   
Porphyry is formed in two stages: the magma cools slowly deep within the crust or the magma is cools rapidly as it erupts from a volcano, creating small grains that are usually invisible to naked eye.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Feldspar, Hematite, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Quartz, Silica   
Biotite, Chert, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Quartz, Silica   

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

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

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

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
5-6   
6-7   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Irregular   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Subvitreous to Dull   
Dull   

Cleavage
Perfect   
Imperfect   

Toughness
2.1   
1.7   

Specific Gravity
Not Available   
2.5-4   

Transparency
Opaque   
Translucent to Opaque   

Density
Not Available   
2.5-2.52 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

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

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia   
China, Kazakhstan, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam   

Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania   
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa   

Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey   
Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Norway, Romania, Sweden, Switzerland   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Greenland   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

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

South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru   
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador, Paraguay   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia   
New South Wales, New Zealand, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Scoria and Porphyry Properties

Know all about Scoria and Porphyry properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Scoria and Porphyry belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Scoria is Vesicular whereas that of Porphyry is Porphyritic. Scoria appears Glassy and Vesicular and Porphyry appears Dull. The luster of Scoria is subvitreous to dull while that of Porphyry is dull. Scoria is available in black, brown, dark grey to black, red colors whereas Porphyry is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, red, rust, white 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 Porphyry are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry.

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