Argillite and Banded iron formation

Argillite

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

Banded iron formation are distinctive units of sedimentary rock that are almost always of Precambrian age

History

Origin

Unknown

Western Australia, Minnesota

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite

From its formation process

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Clastic, Polished

Banded, Trellis

Color

Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White

Red, Reddish Brown

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Rough and Dull

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Paving Stone, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

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

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends

As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Not Available

Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite

Features

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Present

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.

The banded iron layers are formed in sea water when oxygen is released by photosynthetic cyano-bacteria. The oxygen then combines with dissolved iron in ocean to form insoluble iron oxides, which precipitated out, forming a thin layer of banded iron formation on ocean floor.

Composition

Mineral Content

Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz

Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz

Compound Content

Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

2-3

5.5-6

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Streak

White to Grey

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Waxy and Dull

Earthy

Cleavage

Slaty

Imperfect

Toughness

2.6

1.5

Specific Gravity

2.56-2.68

5.0-5.3

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.54-2.66 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.87 kJ/Kg K

3.20 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

China, India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

Others

Not Yet Found

Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada, Mexico, USA

South America

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Bolivia, Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

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

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Argillite and Banded iron formation Properties

Know all about Argillite and Banded iron formation properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Argillite and Banded iron formation belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Argillite is Clastic, Polished whereas that of Banded iron formation is Banded, Trellis. Argillite appears Rough and Dull and Banded iron formation appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Argillite is waxy and dull while that of Banded iron formation is earthy. Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors whereas Banded iron formation is available in red, reddish brown colors. The commercial uses of Argillite are fire resistant, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends and that of Banded iron formation are as a touchstone, cemetery markers, creating artwork.