Banded iron formation and Rapakivi Granite

Rapakivi Granite and Banded iron formation

Definition

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

Rapakivi Granite is a hornblende-biotite Granite containing large rounded crystals of orthoclase which are mantled with oligoclase

History

Origin

Western Australia, Minnesota

Finland, Europe

Discoverer

Unknown

Jakob Sederholm

Etymology

From its formation process

From Finnish Rapakivi which stands for crumbly rock

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Plutonic

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Banded, Trellis

Granular, Phaneritic

Color

Red, Reddish Brown

Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Veined or Pebbled

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Exterior Uses

Paving Stone, Office Buildings

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings, Paving Stone, Resorts

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing, Whetstones

Not Yet Used

Industry

Construction Industry

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

As Dimension Stone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Curling, Laboratory bench tops, Tombstones

Types

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

Igneous Protolith Granite, Sedimentary Protolith Granite, Mantle Granite, Anorogenic Granite and Hybrid Granite

Features

Is one of the oldest rock

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, It is One of the Oldest, Strongest and Hardest 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

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Not Yet Used

Used

Fossils

Present

Absent

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.

Granite is an igneous rock which is very hard, crystalline and is visibly homogeneous in texture and forms by melting of continental rocks

Composition

Mineral Content

Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz

Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-6

6-7

Grain Size

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Not Available

Streak

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Earthy

Dull to Grainy with Sporadic parts Pearly and Vitreous

Compressive Strength

Not Available

175.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Imperfect

Not Available

Toughness

1.5

Not Available

Specific Gravity

5.0-5.3

2.6-2.7

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

Not Available

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

3.20 kJ/Kg K

0.79 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

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

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Venezuela

Others

Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

Canada, USA

South America

Bolivia, Brazil

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Banded iron formation and Rapakivi Granite Properties

Know all about Banded iron formation and Rapakivi Granite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Banded iron formation belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Rapakivi Granite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Banded iron formation is Banded, Trellis whereas that of Rapakivi Granite is Granular, Phaneritic. Banded iron formation appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and Rapakivi Granite appears Veined or Pebbled. The luster of Banded iron formation is earthy while that of Rapakivi Granite is dull to grainy with sporadic parts pearly and vitreous. Banded iron formation is available in red, reddish brown colors whereas Rapakivi Granite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Banded iron formation are as a touchstone, cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Rapakivi Granite are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, creating artwork, curling, laboratory bench tops, tombstones.