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
Mylonite is a metamorphic rock formed by ductile deformation during intense shearing encountered during folding and faulting, a process termed cataclastic or dynamic metamorphism
Origin
USA, Australia
New Zealand
Discoverer
Tornebohm
Unknown
Etymology
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.
From Greek mulōn mill + -ite
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough
Foliated
Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White
Black to Grey
Durability
Durable
Durable
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Dull
Dull, Banded and Foilated
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
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
for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry
Types
Endoskarns
Blastomylonites, Ultramylonites and Phyllonites
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits
Surfaces are often shiny
Archaeological Significance
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.
Mylonites are ductilely deformed rocks formed by the accumulation of large shear strain, in ductile fault zones.
Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite
Porphyroblasts
Compound Content
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO
Aluminium Oxide, Calcium Sulfate, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, Silicon Dioxide
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
-
Types of Weathering
-
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
-
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Irregular
Conchoidal
Streak
Light to dark brown
White
Porosity
Less Porous
Highly Porous
Luster
Waxy and Dull
Shiny
Cleavage
Slaty
Conchoidal
Specific Gravity
2.86
2.97-3.05
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
2.6-4.8 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka
China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
Africa
South Africa, Western Africa
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
Europe
United Kingdom
England, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, United Kingdom
Deposits in Western Continents
South America
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay
-
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
Skarn vs Mylonite 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 Mylonite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Skarn and Properties of Mylonite. Learn more about Skarn vs Mylonite in the next section. The interior uses of Skarn include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Mylonite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Skarn and Mylonite, 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 Mylonite include For road aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone.
More about Skarn and Mylonite
Here you can know more about Skarn and Mylonite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Skarn and Mylonite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Skarn includes Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite and mineral content of Mylonite includes Porphyroblasts. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Skarn vs Mylonite, 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, Mylonite is available in black to grey colors. Appearance of Skarn is Dull and that of Mylonite is Dull, Banded and Foilated. Properties of rock is another aspect for Skarn vs Mylonite. The hardness of Skarn is 6.5 and that of Mylonite is 3-4. The types of Skarn are Endoskarns whereas types of Mylonite are Blastomylonites, Ultramylonites and Phyllonites. 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 Mylonite is white. The specific heat capacity of Skarn is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Mylonite is 1.50 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 Mylonite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.