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Argillite vs Oolite


Oolite vs 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  
Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains which are composed of concentric layers of calcite  

History
  
  

Origin
-  
-  

Discoverer
Unknown  
William Smith  

Etymology
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite  
From oo- + -lite, after German Oolit. A rock consisting of fine grains of carbonate of lime  

Class
Sedimentary Rocks  
Sedimentary Rocks  

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock  

Family
  
  

Group
-  
Volcanic  

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

Texture

Texture
Clastic, Polished  
Clastic or Non-Clastic  

Color
Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White  
Black, Blue, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Silver, White, Yellow  

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  
Rounded and Rough  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration  
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration  

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone  

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing, Whetstones  
-  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.  
Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Landscaping  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture  
Artifacts  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends  
Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Used in aquariums  

Types

Types
Metamorphic rock  
Pisolitic Oolite and Oncolitic Oolite  

Features
Is one of the oldest rock  
Available in lots of colors, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock  

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
-  

Sculpture
-  
-  

Famous Sculptures
-  
-  

Pictographs
-  
-  

Petroglyphs
-  
-  

Figurines
-  
-  

Fossils
Present  
Present  

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.  
Oolites form when layers of calcite are deposited around a sand grain or fossil piece and are rolled around in calm water, which makes them round.  

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz  
Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt  

Compound Content
Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide  
Aluminium Oxide, Ca, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO  

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No  
No  

Types of Metamorphism
-  
-  

Weathering
Yes  
Yes  

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering  

Erosion
Yes  
Yes  

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
2-3  
3-4  

Grain Size
Fine Grained  
Fine Grained  

Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven  
Conchoidal  

Streak
White to Grey  
White  

Porosity
Highly Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Waxy and Dull  
Pearly to Shiny  

Compressive Strength
-  
40.00 N/mm2  
40

Cleavage
Slaty  
-  

Toughness
2.6  
1  

Specific Gravity
2.56-2.68  
-9999  

Transparency
Opaque  
Opaque  

Density
2.54-2.66 g/cm3  
-9999 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.87 kJ/Kg K  
14
0.65 kJ/Kg K  
25

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant  
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant  

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia  
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam  

Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania  
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe  

Europe
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland  
United Kingdom  

Others
-  
-  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA  
USA  

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

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia  
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula  

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Argillite vs Oolite 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 Argillite and Oolite Reserves. 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. Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains which are composed of concentric layers of calcite. 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 Argillite vs Oolite information and Argillite vs Oolite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Argillite vs Oolite 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 Oolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Argillite and Properties of Oolite. Learn more about Argillite vs Oolite in the next section. The interior uses of Argillite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Oolite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Argillite and Oolite, 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 Oolite include Cement manufacture, Cobblestones, Landscaping.

More about Argillite and Oolite

Here you can know more about Argillite and Oolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Argillite and Oolite 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 Oolite includes Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Argillite vs Oolite, 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, Oolite is available in black, blue, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, silver, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Argillite is Rough and Dull and that of Oolite is Rounded and Rough. Properties of rock is another aspect for Argillite vs Oolite. The hardness of Argillite is 2-3 and that of Oolite is 3-4. The types of Argillite are Metamorphic rock whereas types of Oolite are Pisolitic Oolite and Oncolitic Oolite. 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 Oolite is white. The specific heat capacity of Argillite is 0.87 kJ/Kg K and that of Oolite is 0.65 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 Oolite is heat resistant, wear resistant.

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