Shoshonite and Skarn
Definition
Definition
Shoshonite is a basaltic rock, properly a potassic trachyandesite, composed of olivine, augite and plagioclase phenocrysts in a groundmass with calcic plagioclase and sanidine and some dark-colored volcanic glass
Skarns are formed during regional or contact metamorphism and from a variety of metasomatic processes involving fluids of magmatic, metamorphic, and/or marine origin
History
Origin
Wyoming,USA
USA, Australia
Discoverer
Iddings
Tornebohm
Etymology
From the place of origin called Shoshone riverin Wyoming
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.
Class
Igneous Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Family
Group
Volcanic
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Texture
Porphyritic
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough
Color
Brown- Black, Dark Brown
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
Maintenance
Less
Less
Durability
Durable
Durable
Water Resistant
Yes
Yes
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Stain Resistant
Yes
No
Wind Resistant
Yes
Yes
Acid Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Dull
Dull
Uses
Architecture
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Industry
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cobblestones, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Gold and Silver production, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Applicable
Antiquity Uses
Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Other Uses
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Types
Types
Not Available
Endoskarns
Features
Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate, Very fine grained rock
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits
Archaeological Significance
Monuments
Not Yet Used
Used
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
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
Shoshonite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Skarn is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.
Composition
Mineral Content
Pyroxene
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, Sodium Oxide, Titanium Dioxide
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO
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
No
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Not Applicable
Erosion
Yes
No
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
Not Applicable
Properties
Physical Properties
Hardness
6
6.5
Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Uneven
Irregular
Streak
White to Grey
Light to dark brown
Porosity
Less Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Dull
Waxy and Dull
Cleavage
Poor
Slaty
Toughness
1.6
2.4
Specific Gravity
2.98
2.86
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.9-3 g/cm3
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
Thermal Properties
Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available
0.92 kJ/Kg K
10
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Heat Resistant
Reserves
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
India, Russia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka
Africa
South Africa
South Africa, Western Africa
Europe
Iceland
United Kingdom
Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada
South America
Brazil
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Not Yet Found
Central Australia, Western Australia
All about Shoshonite and Skarn Properties
Know all about Shoshonite and Skarn properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Shoshonite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Skarn belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Shoshonite is Porphyritic whereas that of Skarn is Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough. Shoshonite appears Dull and Skarn appears Dull. The luster of Shoshonite is dull while that of Skarn is waxy and dull. Shoshonite is available in brown- black, dark brown colors whereas Skarn is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Shoshonite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Skarn are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, metallurgical flux, source of magnesia (mgo).
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