Skarn and Granite

Skarn

Granite

Definition

Skarns are formed during regional or contact metamorphism and from a variety of metasomatic processes involving fluids of magmatic, metamorphic, and/or marine origin

Granite is a very hard, granular, crystalline igneous rock which consists mainly of quartz, mica, and feldspar and is often used as building stone

History

Origin

USA, Australia

Unknown

Discoverer

Tornebohm

Unknown

Etymology

From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.

From Italian granito, which means grained rock, from grano grain, and from Latin granum

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Plutonic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough

Granular, Phaneritic

Color

Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White

Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Dull

Veined or Pebbled

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Bridges, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Near Swimming Pools, Office Buildings, Resorts

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

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

As Dimension Stone

Medical Industry

Not Applicable

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)

Curling, Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones, Used in aquariums

Types

Endoskarns

Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite, Hybrid Granite, Granodiorite and Alkali Feldspar Granite

Features

Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest Rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Agia Sophia in Istanbul, Turkey, Blue Domed Church in Santorini, Greece, Blue Mosque in Istanbul, Charminar in Hyderabad, India, Diana, Princess of Wales Memorial Fountain in London, UK, Ephesus in Turkey, Georgia Guidestones in Georgia, US, Hermitage in Saint Petersburg, Khajuraho Temples, India, Mahabalipuram in Tamil Nadu, India, Mysore Palace in Karnataka, India, Signers Monument in Augusta, Georgia, Statue of Liberty in New York, USA, Taj Mahal in Agra, India, Tower Bridge in London, Vietnam Veterans Memorial in Washington, US, Washington Monument, US

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Avukana Buddha Statue in Sri Lanka, Lincoln Memorial in America, Mount Rushmore National Memorial in South Dakota, US, The Colossal Red Granite Statue of Amenhotep III in Karnak, Egypt

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

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.

Granite is an intrusive igneous rock which is very hard, crystalline and is visibly homogeneous in texture and forms by melting of continental rocks

Composition

Mineral Content

Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite

Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Not Applicable

Biological Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Not Applicable

Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6.5

6-7

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Irregular

Not Available

Streak

Light to dark brown

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Waxy and Dull

Dull to Grainy with Sporadic parts Pearly and Vitreous

Compressive Strength

Not Available

175.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Slaty

Not Available

Toughness

2.4

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.86

2.6-2.7

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.8-2.9 g/cm³

2.65-2.75 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K

0.79 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

South Africa, Western Africa

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

United Kingdom

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Venezuela

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada

Canada, USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Central Australia, Western Australia

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Skarn and Granite Properties

Know all about Skarn and Granite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Skarn belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Granite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Skarn is Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough whereas that of Granite is Granular, Phaneritic. Skarn appears Dull and Granite appears Veined or Pebbled. The luster of Skarn is waxy and dull while that of Granite is dull to grainy with sporadic parts pearly and vitreous. Skarn is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas Granite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Skarn are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, metallurgical flux, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Granite are curling, gemstone, laboratory bench tops, tombstones, used in aquariums.