Slate vs Coal

Slate vs Coal 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 Slate and Coal Reserves. Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. Coal is a combustible black or brownish-black sedimentary rock usually occurring in rock strata in layers called coal beds. 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 Slate vs Coal information and Slate vs Coal characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Slate vs Coal 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. Slate vs Coal characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Slate and Properties of Coal. Learn more about Slate vs Coal in the next section. The interior uses of Slate include Bathrooms, Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior decoration, Kitchens and Stair treads whereas the interior uses of Coal include Not yet used. Due to some exceptional properties of Slate and Coal, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Slate in construction industry include As dimension stone and that of Coal include Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel production.

More about Slate and Coal

Here you can know more about Slate and Coal. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Slate and Coal consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Slate includes Apatite, Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Graphite, Hematite, Kaolinite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Tourmaline, Zircon and mineral content of Coal includes Analcime, Apatite, Barite, Calcite, Chalcopyrite, Chlorite, Chromite, Clausthalite, Clay Minerals, Crandallite Group, Dolomite, Feldspar, Galena, Gypsum, Marcasite, Muscovite or Illite, Pyrite, Quartz, Siderite, Sphalerite, Zircon. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Slate vs Coal, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Slate is available in black, brown, buff, green, light to dark grey, purple, red, shades of blue colors whereas, Coal is available in black, brown, dark brown, grey, light to dark grey colors. Appearance of Slate is Dull and that of Coal is Veined or Pebbled. Properties of rock is another aspect for Slate vs Coal. The hardness of Slate is 3-4 and that of Coal is 1-1.5. The types of Slate are Not Available whereas types of Coal are Peat, Lignite, Sub-Bituminous Coal, Bituminous Coal, Anthracite, Graphite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Slate is light to dark brown while that of Coal is black. The specific heat capacity of Slate is 0.76 kJ/Kg K and that of Coal is 1.32 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Slate is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Coal is heat resistant.