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Skarn and Rhyolite


Rhyolite 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   
Rhyolite is a fine-grained igneous rock which is rich in silica   

History
  
  

Origin
USA, Australia   
North America   

Discoverer
Tornebohm   
Ferdinand von Richthofen   

Etymology
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.   
From German Rhyolit, from Greek rhuax lava stream + lithos stone   

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   
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough   
Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic   

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

Maintenance
Less   
More   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Appearance
Dull   
Banded   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens   

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Not Yet Used   

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   
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Knives   

Medical Industry
Not Applicable   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)   
Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry   

Types

Types
Endoskarns   
Pumice Rocks, Obsidian Rocks, Perlite Rocks, Porphyritic Rocks.   

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits   
Acidic in nature, Available in lots of colors   

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
Not Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Not 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. Skarn is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.   
Rhyolite is a felsic extrusive rock and due to its high silica content, rhyolite lava is very viscous and is volcanic equivalent of granite.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite   
Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz   

Compound Content
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO   
Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
Yes   

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

Weathering
No   
Yes   

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

Erosion
No   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5   
6-7   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Large and Coarse Grained   

Fracture
Irregular   
Sub-conchoidal   

Streak
Light to dark brown   
Colorless   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Waxy and Dull   
Earthy   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
140.00 N/mm2   
15

Cleavage
Slaty   
Not Available   

Toughness
2.4   
2   

Specific Gravity
2.86   
2.65-2.67   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3   
2.4-2.6 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K   
10
Not Available   

Resistance
Heat Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

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

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

Europe
United Kingdom   
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada   
Canada, USA   

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

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia   
New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Skarn and Rhyolite Properties

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

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