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
  
Anthracite is a type of sedimentary rock which is hard and is variety of coal that has high luster
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA, Australia
  
Pennsylvania, U.S.
  
Discoverer
Tornebohm
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.
  
From Greek anthrakites, from anthrax, anthrak meaning coal
  
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
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough
  
Amorphous, Glassy
  
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
  
Black, Brown, Dark Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
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
  
Veined or Pebbled
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
  
Not Yet Used
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Not Yet Used
  
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
  
Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel Production
  
Medical Industry
Not Applicable
  
In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Manufacture of Aspirins
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Not Yet Used
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
  
Alumina Refineries, Electricity Generation, Liquid Fuel, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Paper Industry
  
Types
Endoskarns
  
Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits
  
Helps in production of Heat and Electricity, Used as fossil fuel
  
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
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet 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.
  
Anthracite forms from the accumulation of plant debris in a swamp environment. When plant debris dies and falls into the swamp, the standing water of the swamp protects it from decay.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite
  
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals
  
Compound Content
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO
  
Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
No
  
No
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Erosion
No
  
No
  
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
6.5
  
1-1.5
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Irregular
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
Light to dark brown
  
Black
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Waxy and Dull
  
Shiny
  
Cleavage
Slaty
  
Non-Existent
  
Toughness
2.4
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
2.86
  
1.1-1.4
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
1.25-2.5 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
1.32 kJ/Kg K
  
4
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Water Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka
  
Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam
  
Africa
South Africa, Western Africa
  
Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
United Kingdom
  
Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Ukraine, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada
  
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
South America
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay
  
Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, Queensland, Victoria
  
Skarn vs Anthracite 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 Anthracite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Skarn and Properties of Anthracite. Learn more about Skarn vs Anthracite in the next section. The interior uses of Skarn include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Anthracite include Not yet used. Due to some exceptional properties of Skarn and Anthracite, 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 Anthracite include Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel production.
More about Skarn and Anthracite
Here you can know more about Skarn and Anthracite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Skarn and Anthracite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Skarn includes Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite and mineral content of Anthracite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Skarn vs Anthracite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Skarn is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors whereas, Anthracite is available in black, brown, dark brown, grey, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Skarn is Dull and that of Anthracite is Veined or Pebbled. Properties of rock is another aspect for Skarn vs Anthracite. The hardness of Skarn is 6.5 and that of Anthracite is 1-1.5. The types of Skarn are Endoskarns whereas types of Anthracite are Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite. 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 Anthracite is black. The specific heat capacity of Skarn is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Anthracite is 1.32 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 Anthracite is heat resistant, water resistant.