Definition
Conglomerate is a sedimentary rock which forms from rounded gravel and boulder sized clasts which are cemented together in a matrix
  
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
Italy
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Latin conglomeratus, to roll together, i.e. from com together + glomerare to gather into a ball, from glomus (genitive glomeris) a ball
  
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Clastic
  
Clastic, Polished
  
Color
Beige, Black, Brown, Buff, Light to Dark Grey, Orange, Rust, White, Yellow
  
Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White
  
Maintenance
More
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Shiny and Rounded
  
Rough and Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Roof Tiles
  
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing, Whetstones
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Roadstone
  
Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, In aquifers, Tombstones
  
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable
  
Is one of the oldest rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Present
  
Formation
Conglomerate forms where sediments consisting mainly of pebble and cobble-size clasts at least two millimeters in diameter starts accumulating.
  
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
Clay, Sand, Silica, Silt
  
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz
  
Compound Content
NaCl, CaO
  
Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Biological Weathering
  
Erosion
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
2-3
  
2-3
  
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
  
Fine Grained
  
Fracture
Uneven
  
Conchoidal to Uneven
  
Streak
White
  
White to Grey
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Dull
  
Waxy and Dull
  
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Slaty
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
2.6
  
Specific Gravity
2.86-2.88
  
2.56-2.68
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
1.7-2.3 g/cm3
  
2.54-2.66 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
0.87 kJ/Kg K
  
14
Resistance
Heat Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Uzbekistan
  
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia
  
Africa
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
  
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
  
Others
Greenland
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
USA
  
South America
Brazil
  
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand
  
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia
  
Conglomerate 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. Conglomerate vs Argillite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Conglomerate and Properties of Argillite. Learn more about Conglomerate vs Argillite in the next section. The interior uses of Conglomerate include Decorative aggregates, Floor tiles and Homes whereas the interior uses of Argillite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Conglomerate and Argillite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Conglomerate in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Roadstone and that of Argillite include Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills..
More about Conglomerate and Argillite
Here you can know more about Conglomerate and Argillite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Conglomerate and Argillite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Conglomerate includes Clay, Sand, Silica, Silt 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 Conglomerate vs Argillite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Conglomerate is available in beige, black, brown, buff, light to dark grey, orange, rust, white, yellow colors whereas, Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. Appearance of Conglomerate is Shiny and Rounded and that of Argillite is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Conglomerate vs Argillite. Hardness of Conglomerate and Argillite is 2-3. The types of Conglomerate are Not Available whereas types of Argillite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Conglomerate is white while that of Argillite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Conglomerate is 0.92 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.Conglomerate is heat resistant whereas Argillite is heat resistant, impact resistant.