Diabase and Argillite
Definition
Definition
Diabase is a fine-grained igneous rock which is composed mostly of pyroxene and feldspar
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
Germany
Unknown
Discoverer
Christian Leopold von Buch
Unknown
Etymology
From Greek di + base
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite
Class
Igneous Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Family
Group
Volcanic
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Texture
Aphanitic, Granular
Clastic, Polished
Color
Dark Grey to Black
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
Yes
Yes
Acid Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Vesicular
Rough and Dull
Uses
Architecture
Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing, Whetstones
Industry
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
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
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends
Types
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Features
Smooth to touch
Is one of the oldest rock
Archaeological Significance
Monuments
Used
Used
Famous Monuments
Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
Data Not Available
Sculpture
Used
Used
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Pictographs
Not Used
Used
Petroglyphs
Not Used
Used
Figurines
Used
Used
Fossils
Absent
Present
Formation
Formation
Diabase forms when molten igneous rock is squeezed up into a vertical crack in other rocks, the crack is usually forced apart and the molten rock cools in the space to form a tabular igneous intrusion cutting across the surrounding rocks and is known as a dike.
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
Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide
Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
Transformation
Metamorphism
Yes
No
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Not Applicable
Weathering
Yes
Yes
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
Biological Weathering
Erosion
Yes
Yes
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
Chemical Erosion
Properties
Physical Properties
Hardness
7
2-3
Grain Size
Fine to Medium Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal
Conchoidal to Uneven
Streak
Black
White to Grey
Porosity
Highly Porous
Highly Porous
Luster
Not Available
Waxy and Dull
Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm2
7
Not Available
Cleavage
Not Available
Slaty
Toughness
1.6
2.6
Specific Gravity
2.86-2.87
2.56-2.68
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.7-3.3 g/cm3
2.54-2.66 g/cm3
Thermal Properties
Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available
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
India
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia
Africa
South Africa, Tanzania
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
Europe
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Others
Antarctica, Greenland
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
USA
South America
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia
All about Diabase and Argillite Properties
Know all about Diabase and Argillite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Diabase belongs to Igneous Rocks while Argillite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Diabase is Aphanitic, Granular whereas that of Argillite is Clastic, Polished. Diabase appears Vesicular and Argillite appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Diabase is not available while that of Argillite is waxy and dull. Diabase is available in dark grey to black colors whereas Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Diabase are an oil and gas reservoir, cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones and that of Argillite are fire resistant, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends.
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