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
  
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA, Australia
  
England
  
Discoverer
Tornebohm
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.
  
From Old French esclate, from esclat (French éclat)
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough
  
Foliated
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
  
Black, Brown, Buff, Green, Light to Dark Grey, Purple, Red, Shades of Blue
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Dull
  
Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
  
Bathrooms, 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, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
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
  
Medical Industry
Not Applicable
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Blackboards, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Standard material for the bed of Billiard table, Standard material for the beds of Pool and Snooker table, Tombstones, Used in aquariums, Writing Slates
  
Types
Endoskarns
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits
  
Easily splits into thin plates, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
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
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.
  
Slate is a low grade metamorphic rock that is generally formed by metamorphosis of mudstone or shale, under relatively low pressure and temperature conditions.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite
  
Apatite, Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Graphite, Hematite, Kaolinite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Tourmaline, Zircon
  
Compound Content
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
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
  
Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
6.5
  
3-4
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Very fine-grained
  
Fracture
Irregular
  
Splintery
  
Streak
Light to dark brown
  
Light to dark brown
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Waxy and Dull
  
Dull
  
Compressive Strength
Not Available
  
30.00 N/mm
2
  
30
Cleavage
Slaty
  
Slaty
  
Toughness
2.4
  
1.2
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
2.65-2.8
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
2.6-2.8 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
0.76 kJ/Kg K
  
17
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka
  
China, India, Turkey
  
Africa
South Africa, Western Africa
  
Not Yet Found
  
Europe
United Kingdom
  
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Arctic
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada
  
USA
  
South America
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay
  
Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
Not Yet Found
  
All about Skarn and Slate Properties
Know all about Skarn and Slate properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Skarn and Slate belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Skarn is Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough whereas that of Slate is Foliated. Skarn appears Dull and Slate appears Dull. The luster of Skarn is waxy and dull while that of Slate is dull. Skarn is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas Slate is available in black, brown, buff, green, light to dark grey, purple, red, shades of blue colors. The commercial uses of Skarn are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, metallurgical flux, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Slate are blackboards, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, standard material for the bed of billiard table, standard material for the beds of pool and snooker table, tombstones, used in aquariums, writing slates.