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What is 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

History

Origin
USA, Australia

Discoverer
Tornebohm

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

Class
Metamorphic Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group
-

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Earthy, Mud-rich, Rough

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, White

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
Yes

Scratch Resistant
Yes

Stain Resistant
No

Wind Resistant
Yes

Acid Resistant
Yes

Appearance
Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Interior Decoration

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

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

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

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

Types

Types
Endoskarns

Features
Host Rock for Lead, Zinc and Copper Deposits

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. Skarn is formed from the extreme heat caused by magma or by the intense collisions and friction of tectonic plates.

Composition

Mineral Content
Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite

Compound Content
Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO

Transformation

Metamorphism
Yes

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering
No

Types of Weathering
-

Erosion
No

Types of Erosion
-

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
6.5

Grain Size
Fine Grained

Fracture
Irregular

Streak
Light to dark brown

Porosity
Less Porous

Luster
Waxy and Dull

Compressive Strength
70.00 N/mm2 35

Cleavage
Slaty

Toughness
2.4

Specific Gravity
2.86

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K 10

Resistance
Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

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

Africa
South Africa, Western Africa

Europe
United Kingdom

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada

South America
Brazil, Colombia, Paraguay

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Metamorphic Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Skarn

What is Skarn? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Skarn i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Skarn include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Skarn is 70.00 N/mm2. Streak of Skarn is light to dark brown while its cleavage is slaty. Luster of Skarn is waxy and dull and its fracture is irregular. Skarn is opaque in nature. Know all about Skarn, What is Skarn, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Skarn

What is Skarn composed of? Get to know about composition of Skarn here. Skarn definition gives information about the Formation of Skarn and its composition.The composition of Skarn can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Skarn rock includes Calcite, Enstatite, Epidote, Garnet, Magnetite, Pyroxene, Titanite and The compound content of Skarn rock includes Au, CaO, Carbon Dioxide, Cu, Fe, MgO. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Skarn rock in next section.

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