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
  
Claystone is a fine-grained, dark gray to pink sedimentary rock which mainly consists of compacted and hardened clay
  
History
  
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite
  
From English clay and stone as the rock contains more amount of clay
  
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
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Clastic, Polished
  
Clastic
  
Color
Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White
  
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Grey, Orange, Red, White, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
More
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Rough and Dull
  
Rough and Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Facing Stone, Roof Tiles
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing, Whetstones
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
  
As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends
  
Pottery
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Is one of the oldest rock
  
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
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.
  
Claystone is generally quite soft, but can be hard and brittle. It forms due to weathering of mudstone.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz
  
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz
  
Compound Content
Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, Ca, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion
  
Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
2-3
  
3.5-4
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven
  
Not Available
  
Streak
White to Grey
  
White
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Very Less Porous
  
Luster
Waxy and Dull
  
Dull
  
Cleavage
Slaty
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
2.6
  
2.6
  
Specific Gravity
2.56-2.68
  
0
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.54-2.66 g/cm3
  
2-2.9 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.87 kJ/Kg K
  
14
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia
  
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia
  
Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
  
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, Panama, USA
  
South America
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
  
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia
  
Argillite vs Claystone 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 Claystone characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Argillite and Properties of Claystone. Learn more about Argillite vs Claystone in the next section. The interior uses of Argillite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Claystone include Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Floor tiles, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Argillite and Claystone, 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 Claystone include As a sintering agent in steel industry to process iron ore, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar.
More about Argillite and Claystone
Here you can know more about Argillite and Claystone. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Argillite and Claystone 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 Claystone includes Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Argillite vs Claystone, 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, Claystone is available in black, blue, brown, green, grey, orange, red, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Argillite is Rough and Dull and that of Claystone is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Argillite vs Claystone. The hardness of Argillite is 2-3 and that of Claystone is 3.5-4. The types of Argillite are Not Available whereas types of Claystone are Not Available. 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 Claystone is white. The specific heat capacity of Argillite is 0.87 kJ/Kg K and that of Claystone is 0.92 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 Claystone is heat resistant, impact resistant.