Definition
Diamictite is a sedimentary rock that consists of non-sorted to poorly sorted terrigenous sediment containing particles that range in size from clay to boulders, suspended in a matrix of mudstone or sandstone
Anorthosite is a granular igneous rock composed largely of labradorite or plagioclase
Origin
Southern Mongolia
-
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
From Greek dia through and meiktós or mixed
From French anorthose plagioclase + -ite1
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Igneous Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Clastic
Foliated, Glassy
Color
Brown, Buff
Black, Bluish - Grey, Brown, Green, Grey, Light Greenish Grey, Pink, White
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Banded
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Production of Lime
Creating Artwork, Curling
Types
Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite
Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
Archaeological Significance
Formation
Diamictite is unevenly sorted terrigenous, non-calcareous sedimentary rock which forms due to weathering of mudstone and sandstone.
Anorthosite is a phaneritic, intrusive igneous rock which is characterized by a predominance of plagioclase feldspar which is almost 90–100%, and a minimal mafic component.
Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene
Compound Content
-
Ca, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, MgO, Sulfur Trioxide
Types of Metamorphism
-
Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
Biological Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Wind Erosion
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
Coarse Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven
Irregular
Streak
Light to dark brown
White
Porosity
Highly Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous
Pearly to Subvitreous
Specific Gravity
4.3-5.0
2.62-2.82
Transparency
Opaque
Translucent
Density
2.2-2.35 g/cm3
2.7-4 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia
-
Africa
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
-
Europe
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Bulgaria, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, The Czech Republic
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
Canada
South America
Brazil, Venezuela
Bolivia, Colombia
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand
Central Australia, South Australia, Western Australia
Diamictite vs Anorthosite 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. Diamictite vs Anorthosite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Diamictite and Properties of Anorthosite. Learn more about Diamictite vs Anorthosite in the next section. The interior uses of Diamictite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Anorthosite include Decorative aggregates, Floor tiles, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Diamictite and Anorthosite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Diamictite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone and that of Anorthosite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate.
More about Diamictite and Anorthosite
Here you can know more about Diamictite and Anorthosite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Diamictite and Anorthosite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Diamictite includes Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz and mineral content of Anorthosite includes Amphibole, Clinopyroxene, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Olivine, Orthopyroxene. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Diamictite vs Anorthosite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Diamictite is available in brown, buff colors whereas, Anorthosite is available in black, bluish - grey, brown, green, grey, light greenish grey, pink, white colors. Appearance of Diamictite is Banded and that of Anorthosite is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Diamictite vs Anorthosite. The hardness of Diamictite is 2-3 and that of Anorthosite is 5-6. The types of Diamictite are Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite whereas types of Anorthosite are Proterozoic Anorthosite and Archean Anorthosite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Diamictite is light to dark brown while that of Anorthosite is white. The specific heat capacity of Diamictite is 0.75 kJ/Kg K and that of Anorthosite is 0.84 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Diamictite is heat resistant, impact resistant whereas Anorthosite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, scratch resistant, wear resistant.