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Skarn and Icelandite


Icelandite and Skarn


Definition

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   
Icelandite belongs to volcanic igneous rocks which is rich in iron and belongs to andesite rock   

History
  
  

Origin
USA, Australia   
Iceland   

Discoverer
Tornebohm   
Ian S. E. Carmichael   

Etymology
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.   
From its origin place near Cenozoic volcano near the parsonage Þingmúli in East Iceland   

Class
Metamorphic Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Volcanic   

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

Texture

Texture
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough   
Aphanitic to Porphyritic   

Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White   
Bluish - Grey, Grey, Pink, Yellow   

Maintenance
Less   
More   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Dull   
Dull and Soft   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone   
Office Buildings, Roof Tiles   

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
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   
Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate   

Medical Industry
Not Applicable   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Jewellery, Sculpture, Small Figurines   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)   
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork   

Types

Types
Endoskarns   
Not Available   

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits   
Generally rough to touch, High silica content, Is one of the oldest rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Absent   

Formation

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.   
Icelandite 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.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite   
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Zircon   

Compound Content
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO   
Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

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

Weathering
No   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Not Applicable   
Biological Weathering   

Erosion
No   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Not Applicable   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5   
7   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Irregular   
Uneven   

Streak
Light to dark brown   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Waxy and Dull   
Vitreous   

Cleavage
Slaty   
Not Available   

Toughness
2.4   
1.1   

Specific Gravity
2.86   
2.5-2.8   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   
2.11-2.36 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
2.39 kJ/Kg K   
2

Resistance
Heat Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka   
India, Indonesia, Japan, Nepal, South Korea   

Africa
South Africa, Western Africa   
Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Namibia, South Africa, Tanzania   

Europe
United Kingdom   
Austria, Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Turkey, United Kingdom   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada   
Mexico, USA   

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

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Skarn and Icelandite Properties

Know all about Skarn and Icelandite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Skarn belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Icelandite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Skarn is Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough whereas that of Icelandite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic. Skarn appears Dull and Icelandite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Skarn is waxy and dull while that of Icelandite is vitreous. Skarn is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas Icelandite is available in bluish - grey, grey, pink, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Skarn are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, metallurgical flux, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Icelandite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.

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