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
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite
  
From its formation process
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
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
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Rough and Dull
  
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
  
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
  
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
  
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
  
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
  
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
No
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering
  
Chemical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion
  
Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
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
  
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
  
14
3.20 kJ/Kg K
  
1
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
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
  
Argillite vs Banded iron formation 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. Argillite vs Banded iron formation characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Argillite and Properties of Banded iron formation. Learn more about Argillite vs Banded iron formation in the next section. The interior uses of Argillite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Banded iron formation include Decorative aggregates and Homes. Due to some exceptional properties of Argillite and Banded iron formation, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Argillite in construction industry include Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills. and that of Banded iron formation include As dimension stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills..
More about Argillite and Banded iron formation
Here you can know more about Argillite and Banded iron formation. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Argillite and Banded iron formation consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Argillite includes Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz and mineral content of Banded iron formation includes Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Argillite vs Banded iron formation, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors whereas, Banded iron formation is available in red, reddish brown colors. Appearance of Argillite is Rough and Dull and that of Banded iron formation is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Argillite vs Banded iron formation. The hardness of Argillite is 2-3 and that of Banded iron formation is 5.5-6. The types of Argillite are Not Available whereas types of Banded iron formation are Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Argillite is white to grey while that of Banded iron formation is white. The specific heat capacity of Argillite is 0.87 kJ/Kg K and that of Banded iron formation is 3.20 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Argillite is heat resistant, impact resistant whereas Banded iron formation is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.