Definition
Chert is a hard, dark, opaque sedimentary rock which is composed of silica with an amorphous fine-grained texture
  
Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms by the metamorphism of pure quartz Sandstone
  
History
  
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From flint-like quartz, 1670s, of unknown origin- a local term, which has been taken into geological use
  
From quartz + -ite
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Banded, Rough
  
Foliated, Granular
  
Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
  
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Light Grey, Purple, White, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Glassy or Pearly
  
Lustrous
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points
  
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
  
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms
  
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As armour rock for sea walls, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, In aquifers, Laboratory bench tops, Petroleum reservoirs, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Tombstones, Used in aquariums
  
Types
Flint, Jasper, Radiolarite, Common Chert, Chalcedony, Agate, Onyx, Opal, Magadi-type Chert, Porcelanite, Siliceous Sinter
  
Not Available
  
Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate
  
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
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
Chert forms when microcrystals of silicon dioxide grow within soft sediments that become limestone or chalk. The chert formation can be either of chemical or biological origin.
  
Quartzite forms from sandstone and the mineral quartz being put under extreme heat and pressure.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Quartz, Silicon
  
Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz
  
Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
6.5-7
  
6-7
  
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
  
Medium Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
  
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Waxy and Dull
  
Vitreous
  
Compressive Strength
450.00 N/mm2
  
1
115.00 N/mm2
  
18
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Indiscernible
  
Toughness
1.5
  
1.9
  
Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8
  
2.6-2.8
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Transparent to Translucent
  
Density
2.7 g/cm3
  
2.32-2.42 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.74 kJ/Kg K
  
19
0.75 kJ/Kg K
  
18
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Iran, Japan, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
  
China, India, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey
  
Africa
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe
  
Europe
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
  
England, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, United Kingdom
  
Others
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
  
Greenland
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
Bahamas, Canada, USA
  
South America
Bolivia, Brazil
  
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia
  
All about Chert and Quartzite Properties
Know all about Chert and Quartzite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Chert belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Quartzite belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Chert is Banded, Rough whereas that of Quartzite is Foliated, Granular. Chert appears Glassy or Pearly and Quartzite appears Lustrous. The luster of Chert is waxy and dull while that of Quartzite is vitreous. Chert is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors whereas Quartzite is available in black, blue, brown, green, light grey, purple, white, yellow colors. The commercial uses of Chert are creating artwork, gemstone, in fire-starting tools, jewelry, to ignite fire, used in flintlock firearms and that of Quartzite are an oil and gas reservoir, as armour rock for sea walls, cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, in aquifers, laboratory bench tops, petroleum reservoirs, soil conditioner, source of magnesia (mgo), tombstones, used in aquariums.