Scoria and Pumice

Scoria

Pumice

Definition

Scoria is a dark-colored extrusive igneous rock with abundant round bubble-like cavities

Pumice is a volcanic rock that consists of highly vesicular rough textured volcanic glass, which may or may not contain crystals

History

Origin

Unknown

Spain

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From late Middle English (denoting slag from molten metal), from Greek skōria refuse, from skōr dung

From Old French pomis, from a Latin dialect variant of pumex

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Vesicular

Color

Black, Brown, Dark Grey to Black, Red

Beige, Colourless, Grey, Light Green, Light Grey, Pink, White, Yellow- grey

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Glassy and Vesicular

Vesicular

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Curbing, Powder

Industry

Construction Industry

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

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, In landscaping and horticulture, Making natural cement, Production of lightweight concrete blocks

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

As an abrasive in skin exfoliating products, In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Medicines and Cosmetics

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

As a traction material on snow-covered roads, Creating Artwork, High-temperature insulation, In gas barbecue grills

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

Types

Not Available

Scoria

Features

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Generally rough to touch, Surfaces are often shiny

Host Rock for Lead

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Scoria forms when magma containing huge amount of dissolved gas flows from a volcano during an eruption.

Pumice rock forms when the magma cools so quickly that atoms in the melt are not able to arrange themselves into a crystalline structure.

Composition

Mineral Content

Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Feldspar, Hematite, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Pyroxene, Quartz, Silica

Aluminum Oxides, Calcite, Carbonate, Iron Oxides, Silica

Compound Content

Ca, NaCl

Al, Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5-6

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Planar

Streak

White

White, Greenish White or Grey

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Earthy

Compressive Strength

Not Available

51.20 N/mm²

Cleavage

Perfect

Toughness

2.1

Specific Gravity

Not Available

2.86

Transparency

Opaque

Density

Not Available

0.25-0.3 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

0.87 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia

Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Tanzania

Europe

Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

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

South America

Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Scoria and Pumice Properties

Know all about Scoria and Pumice properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Scoria and Pumice belong to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Scoria is Vesicular whereas that of Pumice is Vesicular. Scoria appears Glassy and Vesicular and Pumice appears Vesicular. The luster of Scoria is subvitreous to dull while that of Pumice is earthy. Scoria is available in black, brown, dark grey to black, red colors whereas Pumice is available in beige, colourless, grey, light green, light grey, pink, white, yellow- grey 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 Pumice are 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.