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Skarn vs Quartzite


Quartzite 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  
Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms by the metamorphism of pure quartz Sandstone  

History
  
  

Origin
USA, Australia  
-  

Discoverer
Tornebohm  
Unknown  

Etymology
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.  
From quartz + -ite  

Class
Metamorphic Rocks  
Metamorphic Rocks  

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

Family
  
  

Group
-  
-  

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  
Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  

Texture

Texture
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough  
Foliated, Granular  

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White  
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Light Grey, Purple, White, Yellow  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

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  
Lustrous  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes  

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  
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)  
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As armour rock for sea walls, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, In aquifers, Laboratory bench tops, Petroleum reservoirs, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Tombstones, Used in aquariums  

Types

Types
Endoskarns  
Orthoquartzite and Metaquartzite  

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits  
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock  

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
-  

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.  
Quartzite forms from sandstone and the mineral quartz being put under extreme heat and pressure.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite  
Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz  

Compound Content
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, 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, Hydrothermal 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, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5  
6-7  

Grain Size
Fine Grained  
Medium Grained  

Fracture
Irregular  
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal  

Streak
Light to dark brown  
White  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Waxy and Dull  
Vitreous  

Compressive Strength
70.00 N/mm2  
35
115.00 N/mm2  
27

Cleavage
Slaty  
Indiscernible  

Toughness
2.4  
1.9  

Specific Gravity
2.86  
2.6-2.8  

Transparency
Opaque  
Transparent to Translucent  

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3  
2.32-2.42 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K  
10
0.75 kJ/Kg K  
20

Resistance
Heat Resistant  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant  

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka  
China, India, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey  

Africa
South Africa, Western Africa  
Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe  

Europe
United Kingdom  
England, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, United Kingdom  

Others
-  
Greenland  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada  
Bahamas, Canada, USA  

South America
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay  
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

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Skarn vs Quartzite 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 Quartzite 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. Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms by the metamorphism of pure quartz Sandstone. 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 Quartzite information and Skarn vs Quartzite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Skarn vs Quartzite 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 Quartzite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Skarn and Properties of Quartzite. Learn more about Skarn vs Quartzite in the next section. The interior uses of Skarn include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Quartzite include Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Homes. Due to some exceptional properties of Skarn and Quartzite, 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 Quartzite include Arrowheads, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, Cutting tool, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Production of glass and ceramics, Rail track ballast, Roadstone.

More about Skarn and Quartzite

Here you can know more about Skarn and Quartzite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Skarn and Quartzite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Skarn includes Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite and mineral content of Quartzite includes Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Skarn vs Quartzite, 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, Quartzite is available in black, blue, brown, green, light grey, purple, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Skarn is Dull and that of Quartzite is Lustrous. Properties of rock is another aspect for Skarn vs Quartzite. The hardness of Skarn is 6.5 and that of Quartzite is 6-7. The types of Skarn are Endoskarns whereas types of Quartzite are Orthoquartzite and Metaquartzite. 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 Quartzite is white. The specific heat capacity of Skarn is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Quartzite is 0.75 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 Quartzite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.

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