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Argillite and Aplite


Aplite and Argillite


Definition

Definition
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   
Aplite is a fine-grained granite composed mainly of feldspar and quartz   

History
  
  

Origin
Unknown   
Iran   

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite   
From German Aplit, from Greek haploos simple + -ite   

Class
Sedimentary Rocks   
Igneous Rocks   

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

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Plutonic   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Clastic, Polished   
Granular, Graphic   

Color
Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White   
Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White   

Maintenance
Less   
More   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Appearance
Rough and Dull   
Veined or Pebbled   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration   
Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens, Stair Treads   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings   
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Bridges, Paving Stone, Near Swimming Pools, Office Buildings, Resorts   

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing, Whetstones   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.   
As Dimension Stone   

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends   
Curling, Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Small Sculptures, Tombstones   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Not Available   

Features
Is one of the oldest rock   
Available in lots of colors, Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
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
Present   
Absent   

Formation

Formation
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.   
Aplites belong to intrusive igneous rocks which are mostly quart and alkali feldspar and are formed from residual eutectic granitic liquids and represent the final crystallization products of magma.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz   
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz   

Compound Content
Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No   
Yes   

Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable   
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering   
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
2-3   
6.5   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven   
Not Available   

Streak
White to Grey   
White   

Porosity
Highly Porous   
Less Porous   

Luster
Waxy and Dull   
Dull to Pearly to Subvitreous   

Compressive Strength
Not Available   
130.00 N/mm2   
16

Cleavage
Slaty   
Not Available   

Toughness
2.6   
Not Available   

Specific Gravity
2.56-2.68   
2.6   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
2.54-2.66 g/cm3   
2.6 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.87 kJ/Kg K   
14
0.79 kJ/Kg K   
16

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia   
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam   

Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania   
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa   

Europe
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland   
Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Venezuela   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia   
Not Yet Found   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Argillite and Aplite Properties

Know all about Argillite and Aplite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Argillite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Aplite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Argillite is Clastic, Polished whereas that of Aplite is Granular, Graphic. Argillite appears Rough and Dull and Aplite appears Veined or Pebbled. The luster of Argillite is waxy and dull while that of Aplite is dull to pearly to subvitreous. Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors whereas Aplite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Argillite are fire resistant, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends and that of Aplite are curling, gemstone, laboratory bench tops, small sculptures, tombstones.

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