Chert

Travertine

Chert and Travertine

Chert

Travertine

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Definition

Chert is a hard, dark, opaque sedimentary rock which is composed of silica with an amorphous fine-grained texture

Travertine is a mineral consisting of layered calcium carbonate formed by deposition from spring waters

History

Origin

Unknown

Italy

Discoverer

Unknown

Marcus Vitruvius Pollio

Etymology

From flint-like quartz, 1670s, of unknown origin- a local term, which has been taken into geological use

From Italian travertino a kind of building stone, from Tiburs, adjective from Tibur (Tivoli), in Italy

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Banded, Rough

Banded

Color

Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White

Beige, Black, Blue, Brown, Grey, Red, White, Yellow

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Glassy or Pearly

Fibrous

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar

Medical Industry

Not Available

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments

Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Paper Industry, Pottery

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

Stalactites and stalagmites are formed from this rock, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Not Available

Colosseum in Rome, Italy, Sacré Coeur in Paris, France, Trevi Fountain in Rome, Italy

Sculpture

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Not Yet Used

Used

Fossils

Present

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.

Travertine is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock which then undergo sedimentation. They are then subjected to high temperature and pressure hence forming travertine rock.

Composition

Mineral Content

Quartz, Silicon

Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz

Compound Content

Silicon Dioxide

Ca, NaCl, CaO, Oxygen

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Not Applicable

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6.5-73-4

1 7

👆🏻

Grain Size

Very fine-grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Splintery

Streak

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Waxy and Dull

Dull to Pearly

Compressive Strength

450.00 N/mm²80.00 N/mm²

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Not Available

Toughness

1.5

Specific Gravity

2.5-2.81.68

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

2.7 g/cm³2.71 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.74 kJ/Kg K1.09 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

China, Russia

Africa

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Not Available

Europe

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

Austria, Italy, Portugal, United Kingdom

Others

Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Not Available

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

Canada, USA

South America

Bolivia, Brazil

Argentina, Bolivia, Ecuador

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Not Available

All about Chert and Travertine Properties

Know all about Chert and Travertine properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Chert and Travertine belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Chert is Banded, Rough whereas that of Travertine is Banded. Chert appears Glassy or Pearly and Travertine appears Fibrous. The luster of Chert is waxy and dull while that of Travertine is dull to pearly. Chert is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors whereas Travertine is available in beige, black, blue, brown, grey, red, 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 Travertine are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, paper industry, pottery.