Banded iron formation and Argillite

Argillite

Definition

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

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

History

Origin

Western Australia, Minnesota

Unknown

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From its formation process

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

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Banded, Trellis

Clastic, Polished

Color

Red, Reddish Brown

Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Rough and Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

Paving Stone, Office Buildings

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

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

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

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends

Types

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

Not Available

Features

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Not Yet Used

Used

Fossils

Present

Formation

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.

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.

Composition

Mineral Content

Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz

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

Compound Content

Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

2-3

Grain Size

Large and Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Conchoidal to Uneven

Streak

White

White to Grey

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Earthy

Waxy and Dull

Cleavage

Imperfect

Slaty

Toughness

1.5

2.6

Specific Gravity

5.0-5.3

2.56-2.68

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

Not Available

2.54-2.66 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

3.20 kJ/Kg K

0.87 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

Africa

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

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

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

Others

Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

USA

South America

Bolivia, Brazil

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

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

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Banded iron formation and Argillite Properties

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