Soapstone and Skarn
Definition
Definition
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc
Skarns are formed during regional or contact metamorphism and from a variety of metasomatic processes involving fluids of magmatic, metamorphic, and/or marine origin
History
Origin
USA
USA, Australia
Discoverer
Unknown
Tornebohm
Etymology
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap
From an old Swedish mining term originally used to describe a type of silicate gangue or waste rock.
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Family
Group
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Texture
Polished
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough
Color
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, White
Maintenance
Less
Less
Durability
Durable
Durable
Water Resistant
Yes
Yes
Scratch Resistant
No
Yes
Stain Resistant
No
No
Wind Resistant
No
Yes
Acid Resistant
No
Yes
Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated
Dull
Uses
Architecture
Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Industry
Construction Industry
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
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
Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
Not Applicable
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Other Uses
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Metallurgical Flux, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Types
Types
Not Available
Endoskarns
Features
Host Rock for Lead
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits
Archaeological Significance
Monuments
Used
Used
Famous Monuments
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
Data Not Available
Sculpture
Used
Used
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Pictographs
Used
Not Used
Petroglyphs
Used
Not Used
Figurines
Used
Used
Fossils
Absent
Absent
Formation
Formation
Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock and it is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich inmagnesium.
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.
Composition
Mineral Content
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite
Compound Content
CaO, Mg, MgO
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO
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
No
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Erosion
No
No
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Properties
Physical Properties
Hardness
1
6.5
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal
Irregular
Streak
Black
Light to dark brown
Porosity
Less Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Greasy
Waxy and Dull
Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm2
7
Not Available
Cleavage
Perfect
Slaty
Toughness
1
2.4
Specific Gravity
2.86
2.86
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
Thermal Properties
Specific Heat Capacity
0.88 kJ/Kg K
13
0.92 kJ/Kg K
10
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Heat Resistant
Reserves
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand
China, India, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Sri Lanka
Africa
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
South Africa, Western Africa
Europe
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
United Kingdom
Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada
South America
Colombia
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland
Central Australia, Western Australia
All about Soapstone and Skarn Properties
Know all about Soapstone and Skarn properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Soapstone and Skarn belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Soapstone is Polished whereas that of Skarn is Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough. Soapstone appears Dull, Banded and Foilated and Skarn appears Dull. The luster of Soapstone is greasy while that of Skarn is waxy and dull. Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors whereas Skarn is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Soapstone are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, manufacture of soap, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibres, production of lime, source of magnesia (mgo) and that of Skarn are creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, metallurgical flux, source of magnesia (mgo).
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