Felsite

Argillite

Felsite and Argillite

Felsite

Argillite

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1 Definition

1.1 Definition

Felsite is a very fine grained volcanic rock that may or may not contain larger crystals and light colored rock that typically requires petrographic examination or chemical analysis for more precise definition

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

1.2 History

1.2.1 Origin

Unknown

1.2.2 Discoverer

Unknown

1.3 Etymology

From English feldspar and -ite

From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite

1.4 Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

1.4.1 Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

1.5 Family

1.5.1 Group

Volcanic

Not Applicable

1.6 Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

2 Texture

2.1 Texture

Arborescent Patterned, Vitreous

Clastic, Polished

2.2 Color

Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow

Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White

2.3 Maintenance

Less

2.4 Durability

Durable

2.4.1 Water Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.2 Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.3 Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.4 Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

2.4.5 Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

2.5 Appearance

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Rough and Dull

3 Uses

3.1 Architecture

3.1.1 Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

3.1.2 Exterior Uses

Paving Stone, Garden Decoration

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Curbing, Whetstones

3.2 Industry

3.2.1 Construction Industry

Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points

Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

3.2.2 Medical Industry

Surgery

Not Yet Used

3.3 Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

3.4 Other Uses

3.4.1 Commercial Uses

Mirror, Jewelry

Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends

4 Types

4.1 Types

Not Available

4.2 Features

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Clasts are smooth to touch, Splintery, Very fine grained rock

Is one of the oldest rock

4.3 Archaeological Significance

4.3.1 Monuments

Not Yet Used

Used

4.3.2 Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

4.3.3 Sculpture

Not Yet Used

Used

4.3.4 Famous Sculptures

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

4.3.5 Pictographs

Used

4.3.6 Petroglyphs

Used

4.3.7 Figurines

Not Yet Used

Used

4.4 Fossils

Absent

Present

5 Formation

5.1 Formation

Felsite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.

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.

5.2 Composition

5.2.1 Mineral Content

Feldspar, Iron Oxides

Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz

5.2.2 Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

5.3 Transformation

5.3.1 Metamorphism

✔ ✘

5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Not Applicable

5.3.3 Weathering

✔ ✘

5.3.4 Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering

5.3.5 Erosion

✔ ✘

5.3.6 Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion

Chemical Erosion

6 Properties

6.1 Physical Properties

6.1.1 Hardness

5-5.52-3

1 7

6.1.2 Grain Size

Fine Grained

6.1.3 Fracture

Conchoidal

Conchoidal to Uneven

6.1.4 Streak

White

White to Grey

6.1.5 Porosity

Very Less Porous

Highly Porous

6.1.6 Luster

Vitreous

Waxy and Dull

6.1.7 Compressive Strength

0.15 N/mm²NA

0.15 450

6.1.8 Cleavage

Non-Existent

Slaty

6.1.9 Toughness

Not Available

2.6

6.1.10 Specific Gravity

2.6-2.72.56-2.68

0 8.4

6.1.11 Transparency

Translucent

Opaque

6.1.12 Density

2.6 g/cm³2.54-2.66 g/cm³

0 1400

6.2 Thermal Properties

6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K0.87 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

6.2.2 Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

7 Reserves

7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents

7.1.1 Asia

Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

7.1.2 Africa

Kenya

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

7.1.3 Europe

Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey

Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

7.1.4 Others

Not Yet Found

7.2 Deposits in Western Continents

7.2.1 North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

USA

7.2.2 South America

Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent

7.3.1 Australia

New Zealand

New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia

All about Felsite and Argillite Properties

Know all about Felsite and Argillite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Felsite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Argillite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Felsite is Arborescent Patterned, Vitreous whereas that of Argillite is Clastic, Polished. Felsite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and Argillite appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Felsite is vitreous while that of Argillite is waxy and dull. Felsite is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors whereas Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Felsite are mirror, jewelry and that of Argillite are fire resistant, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends.