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
  
Diabase is a fine-grained igneous rock which is composed mostly of pyroxene and feldspar
  
History
  
  
Origin
Southern Mongolia
  
Germany
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Christian Leopold von Buch
  
Etymology
From Greek dia through and meiktós or mixed
  
From Greek di + base
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Volcanic
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Clastic
  
Aphanitic, Granular
  
Color
Brown, Buff
  
Dark Grey to Black
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Appearance
Banded
  
Vesicular
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
  
As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Production of Lime
  
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones
  
Types
Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite
  
Not Available
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Smooth to touch
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Absent
  
Formation
Diamictite is unevenly sorted terrigenous, non-calcareous sedimentary rock which forms due to weathering of mudstone and sandstone.
  
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.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
  
Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine
  
Compound Content
Not Available
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
2-3
  
7
  
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
  
Fine to Medium Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven
  
Conchoidal
  
Streak
Light to dark brown
  
Black
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous
  
Not Available
  
Compressive Strength
Not Available
  
225.00 N/mm
2
  
7
Cleavage
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
1.6
  
Specific Gravity
4.3-5.0
  
2.86-2.87
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.2-2.35 g/cm3
  
2.7-3.3 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.75 kJ/Kg K
  
18
Not Available
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia
  
India
  
Africa
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
  
South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
  
Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Antarctica, Greenland
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
Canada, USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Brazil, Venezuela
  
Argentina, Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand
  
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia
  
Diamictite vs Diabase 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 Diabase characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Diamictite and Properties of Diabase. Learn more about Diamictite vs Diabase in the next section. The interior uses of Diamictite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Diabase include Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Homes, Interior decoration and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Diamictite and Diabase, 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 Diabase include As dimension stone, Building houses or walls, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate.
More about Diamictite and Diabase
Here you can know more about Diamictite and Diabase. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Diamictite and Diabase consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Diamictite includes Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz and mineral content of Diabase includes Augite, Chlorite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Pyrrhotite, Serpentine. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Diamictite vs Diabase, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Diamictite is available in brown, buff colors whereas, Diabase is available in dark grey to black colors. Appearance of Diamictite is Banded and that of Diabase is Vesicular. Properties of rock is another aspect for Diamictite vs Diabase. The hardness of Diamictite is 2-3 and that of Diabase is 7. The types of Diamictite are Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite whereas types of Diabase 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 Diabase is black. The specific heat capacity of Diamictite is 0.75 kJ/Kg K and that of Diabase is Not Available. 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 Diabase is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.