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
A sedimentary rock, deposit of a submarine turbidity currents and are composed of layered particles
Origin
Unknown
European Foreland Basins
Discoverer
Unknown
Arnold H. Bouma
Etymology
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite
From Medieval Latin turbiditas, from Latin turbidus (turbid). Turbidity current is from 1939
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Group
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Clastic, Polished
Mud-rich, Sandy
Color
Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink
Durability
Durable
Durable
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Rough and Dull
Dull and Banded
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing, Whetstones
Curbing
Construction Industry
Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Commercial Uses
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Features
Is one of the oldest rock
High silica content, Host Rock for Lead
Archaeological Significance
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
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.
Turbidite is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock as it flows. These particles then settle down and are subjected to high temperature and pressures hence forming Turbidite.
Mineral Content
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz
Coesite, Quartz, Sand
Compound Content
Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Fine to Coarse Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven
Splintery
Streak
White to Grey
White, Greenish White or Grey
Porosity
Highly Porous
Very Less Porous
Luster
Waxy and Dull
Metallic
Compressive Strength
Not Available
Cleavage
Slaty
Disjunctive
Specific Gravity
2.56-2.68
2.46-2.73
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.54-2.66 g/cm3
1.6-2.5 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Heat Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia
Not Yet Found
Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
Western Africa
Europe
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Austria, Belarus, Romania, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
USA
Canada, USA
South America
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Brazil, Colombia
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia
Argillite vs Turbidite 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 Turbidite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Argillite and Properties of Turbidite. Learn more about Argillite vs Turbidite in the next section. The interior uses of Argillite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Turbidite include Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Flooring, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Argillite and Turbidite, 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 Turbidite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Making natural cement.
More about Argillite and Turbidite
Here you can know more about Argillite and Turbidite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Argillite and Turbidite 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 Turbidite includes Coesite, Quartz, Sand. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Argillite vs Turbidite, 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, Turbidite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink colors. Appearance of Argillite is Rough and Dull and that of Turbidite is Dull and Banded. Properties of rock is another aspect for Argillite vs Turbidite. The hardness of Argillite is 2-3 and that of Turbidite is 3. The types of Argillite are Not Available whereas types of Turbidite 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 Turbidite is white, greenish white or grey. The specific heat capacity of Argillite is 0.87 kJ/Kg K and that of Turbidite 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 Turbidite is heat resistant.