Home
Compare Rocks


Skarn vs Rhyolite


Rhyolite 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  
Rhyolite is a fine-grained igneous rock which is rich in silica  

History
  
  

Origin
USA, Australia  
North America  

Discoverer
Tornebohm  
Ferdinand von Richthofen  

Etymology
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.  
From German Rhyolit, from Greek rhuax lava stream + lithos stone  

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  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  

Texture

Texture
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough  
Aphanitic, Glassy, Porphyritic  

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White  
Grey, White, Light Black  

Maintenance
Less  
More  

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  
Banded  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens  

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Office Buildings  

Other Architectural Uses
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, Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Knives  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture  
Artifacts  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)  
Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry  

Types

Types
Endoskarns  
Pumice Rocks, Obsidian Rocks, Perlite Rocks, Porphyritic Rocks.  

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits  
Acidic in nature, Available in lots of colors  

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.  
Rhyolite is a felsic extrusive rock and due to its high silica content, rhyolite lava is very viscous and is volcanic equivalent of granite.  

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite  
Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz  

Compound Content
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO  
Ca, Fe, Potassium Oxide, Mg, Potassium, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium  

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
-  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering  

Erosion
No  
Yes  

Types of Erosion
-  
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5  
6-7  

Grain Size
Fine Grained  
Large and Coarse Grained  

Fracture
Irregular  
Sub-conchoidal  

Streak
Light to dark brown  
-  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Highly Porous  

Luster
Waxy and Dull  
Earthy  

Compressive Strength
70.00 N/mm2  
35
140.00 N/mm2  
23

Cleavage
Slaty  
-  

Toughness
2.4  
2  

Specific Gravity
2.86  
2.65-2.67  

Transparency
Opaque  
Opaque  

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3  
2.4-2.6 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K  
10
0.71 kJ/Kg K  
23

Resistance
Heat Resistant  
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant  

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka  
China, India  

Africa
South Africa, Western Africa  
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa  

Europe
United Kingdom  
Germany, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Spain  

Others
-  
-  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada  
Canada, USA  

South America
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay  
Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Definition >>
<< All

Skarn vs Rhyolite 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 Rhyolite 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. Rhyolite is a fine-grained igneous rock which is rich in silica. 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 Rhyolite information and Skarn vs Rhyolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Compare Metamorphic Rocks

Skarn vs Rhyolite 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 Rhyolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Skarn and Properties of Rhyolite. Learn more about Skarn vs Rhyolite in the next section. The interior uses of Skarn include Decorative aggregates, Entryways and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Rhyolite include Decorative aggregates, Homes, Hotels, Interior decoration and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Skarn and Rhyolite, 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 Rhyolite include Arrowheads, As dimension stone, Building houses or walls, Construction aggregate, Cutting tool, For road aggregate, Knives.

More about Skarn and Rhyolite

Here you can know more about Skarn and Rhyolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Skarn and Rhyolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Skarn includes Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite and mineral content of Rhyolite includes Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Skarn vs Rhyolite, 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, Rhyolite is available in grey, white, light black colors. Appearance of Skarn is Dull and that of Rhyolite is Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Skarn vs Rhyolite. The hardness of Skarn is 6.5 and that of Rhyolite is 6-7. The types of Skarn are Endoskarns whereas types of Rhyolite are Pumice Rocks, Obsidian Rocks, Perlite Rocks, Porphyritic Rocks.. 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 Rhyolite is . The specific heat capacity of Skarn is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Rhyolite is 0.71 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 Rhyolite is heat resistant, wear resistant.

Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

» More Metamorphic Rocks

Compare Metamorphic Rocks

» More Compare Metamorphic Rocks