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
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
Origin
Southern Mongolia
Unknown
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
From Greek dia through and meiktós or mixed
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
Group
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Clastic
Clastic, Polished
Color
Brown, Buff
Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Banded
Rough and Dull
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing, Whetstones
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Production of Lime
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends
Types
Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite
Not Available
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock
Is one of the oldest rock
Archaeological Significance
Monuments
Not Yet Used
Used
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
Data Not Available
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
Used
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
Data Not Available
Figurines
Not Yet Used
Used
Formation
Diamictite is unevenly sorted terrigenous, non-calcareous sedimentary rock which forms due to weathering of mudstone and sandstone.
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.
Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz
Compound Content
Not Available
Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
Biological Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
Chemical Erosion
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven
Conchoidal to Uneven
Streak
Light to dark brown
White to Grey
Porosity
Highly Porous
Highly Porous
Luster
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous
Waxy and Dull
Cleavage
Not Available
Slaty
Toughness
Not Available
2.6
Specific Gravity
4.3-5.0
2.56-2.68
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.2-2.35 g/cm3
2.54-2.66 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia
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
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
USA
South America
Brazil, Venezuela
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
Diamictite 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. Diamictite vs Argillite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Diamictite and Properties of Argillite. Learn more about Diamictite vs Argillite in the next section. The interior uses of Diamictite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Argillite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Diamictite and Argillite, 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 Argillite include Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills..
More about Diamictite and Argillite
Here you can know more about Diamictite and Argillite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Diamictite and Argillite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Diamictite includes Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz 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 . When we have to compare Diamictite vs Argillite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Diamictite is available in brown, buff colors whereas, Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. Appearance of Diamictite is Banded and that of Argillite is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Diamictite vs Argillite. Hardness of Diamictite and Argillite is 2-3. The types of Diamictite are Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite 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 Diamictite is light to dark brown while that of Argillite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Diamictite is 0.75 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.Diamictite is heat resistant, impact resistant whereas Argillite is heat resistant, impact resistant.