Definition
Banded iron formation are distinctive units of sedimentary rock that are almost always of Precambrian age
  
Pegmatite rock is a holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is composed of interlocking phaneritic crystals
  
History
  
  
Origin
Western Australia, Minnesota
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
R. J. Hauy
  
Etymology
From its formation process
  
From Greek pegma, pegmat which means- thing joined together + -ite
  
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
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Banded, Trellis
  
Pegmatitic
  
Color
Red, Reddish Brown
  
Black, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Rust, Silver, White, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
  
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes
  
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
Paving Stone, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing, Whetstones
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
  
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
  
Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz
  
Types
Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite
  
Granite Pegmatite, Gabbro Pegmatite and Diorite Pegmatite
  
Features
Is one of the oldest rock
  
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Source of corundum, tourmalines, beryls and topaz
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
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.
  
Pegmatite rock is holocrystalline, intrusive igneous rock which is formed by partial melting and dewatering during the process of metamorphism.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz
  
Apatite, Beryl, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Lepidolite, Quartz, Silica, Spodumene, Topaz
  
Compound Content
Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, Phosphorus Pentoxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Chemical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5.5-6
  
7
  
Grain Size
Large and Coarse Grained
  
Medium to Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Earthy
  
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous
  
Compressive Strength
Not Available
  
178.54 N/mm
2
  
12
Cleavage
Imperfect
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
1.5
  
2.1
  
Specific Gravity
5.0-5.3
  
2.6-2.63
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
Not Available
  
2.6-2.65 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
3.20 kJ/Kg K
  
1
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
  
China, India, Iran, Japan, Nepal, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
  
Africa
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
South Africa
  
Europe
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
  
Austria, France, Greece, Ireland, Italy, Netherlands, Slovakia, Spain, Turkey, Ukraine
  
Others
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
Canada
  
South America
Bolivia, Brazil
  
Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Banded iron formation vs Pegmatite 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. Banded iron formation vs Pegmatite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Banded iron formation and Properties of Pegmatite. Learn more about Banded iron formation vs Pegmatite in the next section. The interior uses of Banded iron formation include Decorative aggregates and Homes whereas the interior uses of Pegmatite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Banded iron formation and Pegmatite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Banded iron formation in construction industry include As dimension stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills. and that of Pegmatite include As dimension stone, Building houses or walls, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping.
More about Banded iron formation and Pegmatite
Here you can know more about Banded iron formation and Pegmatite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Banded iron formation and Pegmatite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Banded iron formation includes Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz and mineral content of Pegmatite includes Apatite, Beryl, Feldspar, Fluorite, Garnet, Lepidolite, Quartz, Silica, Spodumene, Topaz. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Banded iron formation vs Pegmatite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Banded iron formation is available in red, reddish brown colors whereas, Pegmatite is available in black, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, rust, silver, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Banded iron formation is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and that of Pegmatite is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Banded iron formation vs Pegmatite. The hardness of Banded iron formation is 5.5-6 and that of Pegmatite is 7. The types of Banded iron formation are Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite whereas types of Pegmatite are Granite Pegmatite, Gabbro Pegmatite and Diorite Pegmatite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Banded iron formation and Pegmatite is white. The specific heat capacity of Banded iron formation is 3.20 kJ/Kg K and that of Pegmatite is Not Available. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Banded iron formation is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Pegmatite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant.