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Serpentinite and Gossan


Gossan and Serpentinite


Definition

Definition
A hydration and metamorphic transformation of ultramafic rock from the Earth's mantle is called as serpentinization, a group of minerals is formed by serpentinization compose rock 'serpentinite'.   
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 English word serpentinization.   
From Cornish gossen from gos, blood from Old Cornish guit   

Class
Metamorphic Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness 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

Texture
Earthy   
Rough, Sandy   

Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White   
Brown, Brown- Black, Gold, Green, Rust   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
No   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Rough and Dull   
Dull and Banded   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings   
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, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork   
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Gemstone   

Types

Types
Jadeitite   
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
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

Pictographs
Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Used   

Figurines
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Serpentinite 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
Carbonate, Magnetite, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine, Sulfides   
Apatite, Augite, Biotite, Bronzite, Calcite, Chert, Epidote, Feldspar, Hornblende, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Zircon   

Compound Content
Ca, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, KCl, MgO, Sulfur Dioxide, Sulphur   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Fe, FeO, Silicon Dioxide, Sulphur   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

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

Weathering
No   
No   

Types of Weathering
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3-5   
4-5   

Grain Size
Very fine-grained   
Fine to Medium Grained   

Fracture
Uneven   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey   
White to Grey   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Waxy and Dull   
Metallic   

Compressive Strength
310.00 N/mm2   
2
Not Available   

Cleavage
Irregular   
Not Available   

Toughness
7   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
2.79-3   
2.0   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.5-3 g/cm3   
Not Available   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.95 kJ/Kg K   
9
0.24 kJ/Kg K   
24

Resistance
Heat Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
India, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea   
China, India, Indonesia, Russia, Singapore, South Korea   

Africa
Ethiopia, Western Africa   
Cape Verde, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa   

Europe
England, Georgia, Switzerland, United Kingdom   
Albania, France, Germany, Great Britain, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada   
Canada, USA   

South America
Colombia   
Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Serpentinite and Gossan Properties

Know all about Serpentinite and Gossan properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Serpentinite and Gossan belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Serpentinite is Earthy whereas that of Gossan is Rough, Sandy. Serpentinite appears Rough and Dull and Gossan appears Dull and Banded. The luster of Serpentinite is waxy and dull while that of Gossan is metallic. Serpentinite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas Gossan is available in brown, brown- black, gold, green, rust colors. The commercial uses of Serpentinite are commemorative tablets, creating artwork and that of Gossan are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, gemstone.

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