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Skarn and Phyllite


Phyllite 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   
Phyllite is a fine-grained metamorphic rock with a well-developed laminar structure, and is intermediate between slate and schist rocks   

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 Greek phullon leaf + -ite1   

Class
Metamorphic Rocks   
Metamorphic Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough   
Phyllitic Sheen, Slaty   

Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White   
Black to Grey, Light Greenish Grey   

Maintenance
Less   
More   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
No   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
No   

Stain Resistant
No   
No   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
No   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
No   

Appearance
Dull   
Crinkled or Wavy   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

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

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   
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar, Roadstone   

Medical Industry
Not Applicable   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

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

Types

Types
Endoskarns   
Not Available   

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits   
Easily splits into thin plates, Is one of the oldest rock, Surfaces are often shiny   

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   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
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.   
Phyllite is a metamorphic rock which is formed by regional metamorphism of argillaceous sediments since their cleavage arose due to deviatoric stress.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite   
Albite, Alusite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Chlorite, Epidote, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Kyanite, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Porphyroblasts, Quartz, Sillimanite, Staurolite, Talc, Zircon   

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

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

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

Weathering
No   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Not Applicable   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
No   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5   
1-2   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Irregular   
Conchoidal   

Streak
Light to dark brown   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Waxy and Dull   
Phyllitic   

Cleavage
Slaty   
Crenulation and Pervasive   

Toughness
2.4   
1.2   

Specific Gravity
2.86   
2.72-2.73   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   
2.18-3.3 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
Not Available   

Resistance
Heat Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka   
Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, Japan, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Pakistan, Russia, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam   

Africa
South Africa, Western Africa   
Egypt, Ethiopia, Morocco, Nigeria, South Africa   

Europe
United Kingdom   
Austria, England, France, Georgia, Germany, Italy, Liechtenstein, Monaco, Norway, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada   
Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA   

South America
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay   
Brazil, Colombia, Guyana   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Skarn and Phyllite Properties

Know all about Skarn and Phyllite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Skarn and Phyllite belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Skarn is Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough whereas that of Phyllite is Phyllitic Sheen, Slaty. Skarn appears Dull and Phyllite appears Crinkled or Wavy. The luster of Skarn is waxy and dull while that of Phyllite is phyllitic. Skarn is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas Phyllite is available in black to grey, light greenish grey colors. The commercial uses of Skarn are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, metallurgical flux, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Phyllite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork, writing slates.

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