Home
Compare Rocks


Anthracite vs Argillite


Argillite vs Anthracite


Definition

Definition
Anthracite is a type of sedimentary rock which is hard and is variety of coal that has high luster   
Argillites are highly compact sedimentary or slightly metamorphosed rocks that consist largely or wholly of particles of clay or silt but lack the fissility of shale or the cleavage characteristic of slate   

History
  
  

Origin
Pennsylvania, U.S.   
Unknown   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Greek anthrakites, from anthrax, anthrak meaning coal   
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite   

Class
Metamorphic Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Amorphous, Glassy   
Clastic, Polished   

Color
Black, Brown, Dark Brown, Grey, Light to Dark Grey   
Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
No   

Scratch Resistant
No   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
No   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
No   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
No   
Yes   

Appearance
Veined or Pebbled   
Rough and Dull   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Not Yet Used   
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   

Exterior Uses
Not Yet Used   
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings   

Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used   
Curbing, Whetstones   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel Production   
Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.   

Medical Industry
In Chemical and Pharmaceutical Industry, Manufacture of Aspirins   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Not Yet Used   
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Alumina Refineries, Electricity Generation, Liquid Fuel, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Paper Industry   
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends   

Types

Types
Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite   
Not Available   

Features
Helps in production of Heat and Electricity, Used as fossil fuel   
Is one of the oldest rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

Sculpture
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Present   

Formation

Formation
Anthracite forms from the accumulation of plant debris in a swamp environment. When plant debris dies and falls into the swamp, the standing water of the swamp protects it from decay.   
An argillite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock mainly composed of clay particles which forms from lithified muds which contain variable amounts of silt-sized particles.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals   
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz   

Compound Content
Carbon, Hydrogen, Nitrogen, Oxygen, Sulphur   
Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
No   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Not Applicable   
Biological Weathering   

Erosion
No   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Not Applicable   
Chemical Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
1-1.5   
2-3   

Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Conchoidal to Uneven   

Streak
Black   
White to Grey   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Shiny   
Waxy and Dull   

Cleavage
Non-Existent   
Slaty   

Toughness
Not Available   
2.6   

Specific Gravity
1.1-1.4   
2.56-2.68   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
1.25-2.5 g/cm3   
2.54-2.66 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
1.32 kJ/Kg K   
4
0.87 kJ/Kg K   
14

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Water Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Bangladesh, Burma, Cambodia, China, India, Indonesia, Kazakhstan, Malaysia, Mongolia, Pakistan, Turkey, Vietnam   
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia   

Africa
Botswana, Kenya, Morocco, Mozambique, South Africa, Tanzania   
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania   

Europe
Belgium, Bulgaria, England, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Kosovo, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, The Czech Republic, Ukraine, United Kingdom   
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Canada, Mexico, USA   
USA   

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

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

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

Definition >>
<< All

Anthracite vs Argillite 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 Anthracite and Argillite Reserves. Anthracite is a type of sedimentary rock which is hard and is variety of coal that has high luster. Argillites are highly compact sedimentary or slightly metamorphosed rocks that consist largely or wholly of particles of clay or silt but lack the fissility of shale or the cleavage characteristic of slate. 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 Anthracite vs Argillite information and Anthracite vs Argillite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Compare Metamorphic Rocks

Anthracite vs Argillite 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. Anthracite vs Argillite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Anthracite and Properties of Argillite. Learn more about Anthracite vs Argillite in the next section. The interior uses of Anthracite include Not yet used whereas the interior uses of Argillite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Anthracite and Argillite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Anthracite in construction industry include Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Steel production and that of Argillite include Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills..

More about Anthracite and Argillite

Here you can know more about Anthracite and Argillite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Anthracite and Argillite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Anthracite includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals and mineral content of Argillite includes Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Anthracite vs Argillite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Anthracite is available in black, brown, dark brown, grey, light to dark grey colors whereas, Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. Appearance of Anthracite is Veined or Pebbled and that of Argillite is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Anthracite vs Argillite. The hardness of Anthracite is 1-1.5 and that of Argillite is 2-3. The types of Anthracite are Semi-anthracite and Meta-anthracite whereas types of Argillite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Anthracite is black while that of Argillite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Anthracite is 1.32 kJ/Kg K and that of Argillite is 0.87 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Anthracite is heat resistant, water resistant whereas Argillite is heat resistant, impact resistant.

Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

» More Metamorphic Rocks

Compare Metamorphic Rocks

» More Compare Metamorphic Rocks