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Skarn vs Andesite


Andesite vs 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  
Andesite is a dark, fine-grained, brown or greyish intermediate volcanic rock which is a commonly found in lava  

History
  
  

Origin
USA, Australia  
North America  

Discoverer
Tornebohm  
Theodor von Gümbel  

Etymology
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.  
From Andes mountains, where it is found in abundance  

Class
Metamorphic Rocks  
Igneous Rocks  

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

Family
  
  

Group
-  
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, Green, Grey, White  
Bluish - Grey, Grey, Pink, Yellow  

Maintenance
Less  
More  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
Yes  
No  

Scratch Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
No  
Yes  

Wind Resistant
Yes  
No  

Acid Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

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
-  
-  

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

Other Uses
  
  

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

Types

Types
Endoskarns  
Icelandite  

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
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
Middle of the Earth in Ecuador  

Sculpture
-  
-  

Famous Sculptures
-  
-  

Pictographs
-  
-  

Petroglyphs
-  
-  

Figurines
-  
-  

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.  
Andesite is a fine-grained igneous rock that forms when the magma is erupted onto the surface and is crystallized quickly.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite  
Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, 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
-  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering  

Erosion
No  
Yes  

Types of Erosion
-  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier 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  

Compressive Strength
70.00 N/mm2  
35
225.00 N/mm2  
8

Cleavage
Slaty  
-  

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, 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
-  
-  

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  

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Skarn vs Andesite Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Skarn and Andesite Reserves. Skarns are formed during regional or contact metamorphism and from a variety of metasomatic processes involving fluids of magmatic, metamorphic, and/or marine origin. Andesite is a dark, fine-grained, brown or greyish intermediate volcanic rock which is a commonly found in lava. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Skarn vs Andesite information and Skarn vs Andesite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Skarn vs Andesite Characteristics

Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Skarn vs Andesite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Skarn and Properties of Andesite. Learn more about Skarn vs Andesite in the next section. The interior uses of Skarn include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Andesite include Decorative aggregates, Floor tiles, Homes, Interior decoration and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Skarn and Andesite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Skarn in construction industry include 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 and that of Andesite include Cobblestones, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate.

More about Skarn and Andesite

Here you can know more about Skarn and Andesite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Skarn and Andesite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Skarn includes Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite and mineral content of Andesite includes Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Garnet, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Zircon. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Skarn vs Andesite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Skarn is available in black, brown, green, grey, white colors whereas, Andesite is available in bluish - grey, grey, pink, yellow colors. Appearance of Skarn is Dull and that of Andesite is Dull and Soft. Properties of rock is another aspect for Skarn vs Andesite. The hardness of Skarn is 6.5 and that of Andesite is 7. The types of Skarn are Endoskarns whereas types of Andesite are Icelandite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Skarn is light to dark brown while that of Andesite is white. The specific heat capacity of Skarn is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Andesite is 2.39 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Skarn is heat resistant whereas Andesite is heat resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.

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