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Chert vs Argillite


Argillite vs Chert


Definition

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

Discoverer
Unknown  
Unknown  

Etymology
From flint-like quartz, 1670s, of unknown origin- a local term, which has been taken into geological use  
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite  

Class
Sedimentary Rocks  
Sedimentary Rocks  

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock  
Durable Rock, Soft Rock  

Family
  
  

Group
-  
-  

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  

Texture

Texture
Banded, Rough  
Clastic, Polished  

Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White  
Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
Yes  
No  

Scratch Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Wind Resistant
No  
Yes  

Acid Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Appearance
Glassy or Pearly  
Rough and Dull  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration  

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing  
Curbing, Whetstones  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, Spear Points  
Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms  
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends  

Types

Types
Flint, Jasper, Radiolarite, Common Chert, Chalcedony, Agate, Onyx, Opal, Magadi-type Chert, Porcelanite, Siliceous Sinter  
Metamorphic rock  

Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate  
Is one of the oldest rock  

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
-  
-  

Famous Monuments
-  
-  

Sculpture
-  
-  

Famous Sculptures
-  
-  

Pictographs
-  
-  

Petroglyphs
-  
-  

Figurines
-  
-  

Fossils
Present  
Present  

Formation

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

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

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No  
No  

Types of Metamorphism
-  
-  

Weathering
No  
Yes  

Types of Weathering
-  
Biological Weathering  

Erosion
Yes  
Yes  

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion  
Chemical Erosion  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6.5-7  
2-3  

Grain Size
Very fine-grained  
Fine Grained  

Fracture
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal  
Conchoidal to Uneven  

Streak
White  
White to Grey  

Porosity
Highly Porous  
Highly Porous  

Luster
Waxy and Dull  
Waxy and Dull  

Compressive Strength
450.00 N/mm2  
1
-  

Cleavage
-  
Slaty  

Toughness
1.5  
2.6  

Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8  
2.56-2.68  

Transparency
Translucent to Opaque  
Opaque  

Density
2.7 g/cm3  
2.54-2.66 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.74 kJ/Kg K  
21
0.87 kJ/Kg K  
14

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant  

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Iran, Japan, 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  
-  

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  

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Chert vs Argillite Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Chert and Argillite Reserves. Chert is a hard, dark, opaque sedimentary rock which is composed of silica with an amorphous fine-grained texture. 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. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Chert vs Argillite information and Chert vs Argillite characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Chert vs Argillite 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. Chert vs Argillite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Chert and Properties of Argillite. Learn more about Chert vs Argillite in the next section. The interior uses of Chert include Decorative aggregates and Homes whereas the interior uses of Argillite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Chert and Argillite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Chert in construction industry include Arrowheads, Construction aggregate, Cutting tool, Spear points and that of Argillite include Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills..

More about Chert and Argillite

Here you can know more about Chert and Argillite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Chert and Argillite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Chert includes Quartz, Silicon and mineral content of Argillite includes Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Chert vs Argillite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Chert is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors whereas, Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. Appearance of Chert is Glassy or Pearly and that of Argillite is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Chert vs Argillite. The hardness of Chert is 6.5-7 and that of Argillite is 2-3. The types of Chert are Flint, Jasper, Radiolarite, Common Chert, Chalcedony, Agate, Onyx, Opal, Magadi-type Chert, Porcelanite, Siliceous Sinter whereas types of Argillite are Metamorphic rock. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Chert is white while that of Argillite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Chert is 0.74 kJ/Kg K and that of Argillite is 0.87 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Chert is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Argillite is heat resistant, impact resistant.

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