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What is Hornfels?



Definition

Definition
Hornfels is a metamorphic rock formed by the contact between mudstone or other clay rich rock, and a hot igneous body, and represents a heat altered equivalent of the original rock

History

Origin
New Zealand

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
From German which means hornstone

Class
Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group
-

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Granular, Platy

Color
Brown, Dark Greenish - Grey, Green, Reddish Brown

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
No

Stain Resistant
No

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
No

Appearance
Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry
for Road Aggregate, Roadstone

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork

Types

Types
Biotite hornfels

Features
Smooth to touch

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Absent

Formation

Formation
Due to change in environmental conditions, rocks are heated and pressurized deep inside the Earth's surface. Hornfels is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.

Composition

Mineral Content
Andalusite

Compound Content
Fe, Mg

Transformation

Metamorphism
No

Types of Metamorphism
-

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering

Erosion
Yes

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

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
2-3

Grain Size
Fine Grained

Fracture
Conchoidal

Streak
-

Porosity
Highly Porous

Luster
Shiny

Compressive Strength
5.80 N/mm2 46

Cleavage
Perfect

Toughness
-

Specific Gravity
3.4-3.9

Transparency
Opaque

Density
0.25-0.30 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.84 kJ/Kg K 15

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
Bangladesh, Bhutan, China, India, North Korea, Qatar, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea, Thailand

Africa
Cameroon, East Africa, Tanzania, Western Africa

Europe
United Kingdom

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Bolivia, Brazil, Colombia, Ecuador

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia

Summary >>
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Metamorphic Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Hornfels

What is Hornfels? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Hornfels i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Hornfels include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Hornfels is 5.80 N/mm2. Streak of Hornfels is while its cleavage is perfect. Luster of Hornfels is shiny and its fracture is conchoidal. Hornfels is opaque in nature. Know all about Hornfels, What is Hornfels, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Hornfels

What is Hornfels composed of? Get to know about composition of Hornfels here. Hornfels definition gives information about the Formation of Hornfels and its composition.The composition of Hornfels can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Hornfels rock includes Andalusite and The compound content of Hornfels rock includes Fe, Mg. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Hornfels rock in next section.

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