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
  
Mudstone is a fine-grained, dark gray sedimentary rock, which is formed from silt and clay and is similar to shale but has less laminations
  
History
  
  
Origin
Southern Mongolia
  
Unknown
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From Greek dia through and meiktós or mixed
  
From the English mud and stone, from low German mudde and stainaz
  
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
  
Color
Brown, Buff
  
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Grey, Orange, Red, White, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
No
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Banded
  
Rough and Dull
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Interior Decoration
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, Paving Stone
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Roof Tiles
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
  
Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Commemorative Tablets, Creating Artwork, Production of Lime
  
Creating Artwork, Pottery
  
Types
Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite
  
Marl, Shale and Argillite
  
Features
Host Rock for Lead, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Present
  
Formation
Diamictite is unevenly sorted terrigenous, non-calcareous sedimentary rock which forms due to weathering of mudstone and sandstone.
  
Mudstone forms when very fine-grained clay particles are deposited in water which settle at the bottom of water bodies. They are buried and compacted by overlying sediment hence forming mudstone.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz
  
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz
  
Compound Content
Not Available
  
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering
  
Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
2-3
  
2-3
  
Grain Size
Coarse Grained
  
Very fine-grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal to Uneven
  
Not Available
  
Streak
Light to dark brown
  
White
  
Porosity
Highly Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Grainy, Pearly and Vitreous
  
Dull
  
Cleavage
Not Available
  
Perfect
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
2.6
  
Specific Gravity
4.3-5.0
  
2.2-2.8
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.2-2.35 g/cm3
  
2.4-2.8 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.75 kJ/Kg K
  
18
0.39 kJ/Kg K
  
23
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 Mudstone 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 Mudstone characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Diamictite and Properties of Mudstone. Learn more about Diamictite vs Mudstone in the next section. The interior uses of Diamictite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Mudstone include Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Floor tiles and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Diamictite and Mudstone, 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 Mudstone include Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar.
More about Diamictite and Mudstone
Here you can know more about Diamictite and Mudstone. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Diamictite and Mudstone consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Diamictite includes Calcite, Clay, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz and mineral content of Mudstone 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 Diamictite vs Mudstone, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Diamictite is available in brown, buff colors whereas, Mudstone is available in black, blue, brown, green, grey, orange, red, white, yellow colors. Appearance of Diamictite is Banded and that of Mudstone is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Diamictite vs Mudstone. Hardness of Diamictite and Mudstone is 2-3. The types of Diamictite are Bedded Diamictite and Laminated Diamictite whereas types of Mudstone are Marl, Shale and Argillite. 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 Mudstone is white. The specific heat capacity of Diamictite is 0.75 kJ/Kg K and that of Mudstone is 0.39 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 Mudstone is heat resistant, impact resistant.