Definition
A water-soluble mineral sediment resulting from concentration and crystallization by evaporation from an aqueous solution
  
Banded iron formation are distinctive units of sedimentary rock that are almost always of Precambrian age
  
History
  
  
Origin
USA
  
Western Australia, Minnesota
  
Discoverer
Usiglio
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From a sediment left after the evaporation
  
From its formation process
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy
  
Banded, Trellis
  
Color
Colourless, Green, Grey, Silver, White
  
Red, Reddish Brown
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Glassy, Vesicular and Foilated
  
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Homes
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
Paving Stone, Office Buildings
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Curbing, Whetstones
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As a Flux in the Production of Steel and Pig Iron, As a Sintering Agent in Steel Industry to process Iron Ore, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
As Dimension Stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
  
Medical Industry
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Used in the manufacture of Ceramic Powder, Used in the preparation of Sulfuric Acid and Silicon Diborite
  
As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Not Available
  
Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite
  
Features
Generally rough to touch, Splintery, Veined
  
Is one of the oldest rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Present
  
Present
  
Formation
Evaporite is water-soluble mineral sediment which forms from concentration and crystallization by evaporation from an aqueous solution.
  
The banded iron layers are formed in sea water when oxygen is released by photosynthetic cyano-bacteria. The oxygen then combines with dissolved iron in ocean to form insoluble iron oxides, which precipitated out, forming a thin layer of banded iron formation on ocean floor.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Calcite, Cancrinite, Gypsum, Kyanite, Magnetite
  
Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz
  
Compound Content
CaMg(CO3)2, CaO, Calcium Sulfate, KCl, MgO, NaCl
  
Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
  
Chemical Weathering
  
Erosion
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Not Applicable
  
Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
2-3
  
5.5-6
  
Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Large and Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Earthy
  
Compressive Strength
225.00 N/mm
2
  
7
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Imperfect
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
1.5
  
Specific Gravity
2.86-2.99
  
5.0-5.3
  
Transparency
Translucent
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
3.20 kJ/Kg K
  
1
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Not Available
  
China, India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
  
Africa
Not Available
  
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
United Kingdom
  
Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
South America
Colombia, Paraguay
  
Bolivia, Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Evaporite vs Banded iron formation 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. Evaporite vs Banded iron formation characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Evaporite and Properties of Banded iron formation. Learn more about Evaporite vs Banded iron formation in the next section. The interior uses of Evaporite include Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Banded iron formation include Decorative aggregates and Homes. Due to some exceptional properties of Evaporite and Banded iron formation, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Evaporite in construction industry include As a flux in the production of steel and pig iron, As a sintering agent in steel industry to process iron ore, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories and that of Banded iron formation include As dimension stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills..
More about Evaporite and Banded iron formation
Here you can know more about Evaporite and Banded iron formation. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Evaporite and Banded iron formation consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Evaporite includes Calcite, Cancrinite, Gypsum, Kyanite, Magnetite and mineral content of Banded iron formation includes Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Evaporite vs Banded iron formation, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Evaporite is available in colourless, green, grey, silver, white colors whereas, Banded iron formation is available in red, reddish brown colors. Appearance of Evaporite is Glassy, Vesicular and Foilated and that of Banded iron formation is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Evaporite vs Banded iron formation. The hardness of Evaporite is 2-3 and that of Banded iron formation is 5.5-6. The types of Evaporite are Not Available whereas types of Banded iron formation are Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Evaporite and Banded iron formation is white. The specific heat capacity of Evaporite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Banded iron formation is 3.20 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Evaporite is heat resistant, pressure resistant whereas Banded iron formation is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.