Flint and Soapstone
Definition
Definition
Flint is a hard type of sedimentary rock that produces a small piece of burning material when hit by steel
It is a metamorphic magnesium rich rock because it is composed of the mineral talc
History
Origin
Unknown
USA
Discoverer
Unknown
Unknown
Etymology
From Old English flint - a type of rock mainly known for high hardness and for giving off sparks when struck
From 17th century, because of its greasy feel and use like a soap
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Family
Group
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Texture
Banded, Rough
Polished
Color
Black, Brown, Green, Grey, Red, White
Black, Black to Grey, Green, Grey
Maintenance
Less
Less
Durability
Durable
Durable
Water Resistant
Yes
Yes
Scratch Resistant
Yes
No
Stain Resistant
Yes
No
Wind Resistant
Yes
No
Acid Resistant
No
No
Appearance
Glassy or Pearly
Dull, Banded and Foilated
Uses
Architecture
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Industry
Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Spear Points
Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Taken as a Supplement for Calcium or Magnesium
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
Artifacts, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture
Other Uses
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, In fire-starting tools, Manufacture of tools, Metallurgical Flux, Jewelry, To ignite fire, Used in flintlock firearms
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry, Manufacture of Soap, Solvents, Dyes, Plastics and Fibres, Production of Lime, Source of Magnesia (MgO)
Types
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Easily splits into thin plates, Has High structural resistance against erosion and climate
Host Rock for Lead
Archaeological Significance
Monuments
Not Yet Used
Used
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
Christ the Redeemer in Rio de Janeiro, Stonehenge in English county of Wiltshire
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
Used
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
Data Not Available
Pictographs
Not Used
Used
Petroglyphs
Not Used
Used
Figurines
Not Yet Used
Used
Fossils
Present
Absent
Formation
Formation
Flint is formed by the decomposition and compaction of various organisms such as sponges and diatoms under the water.
Soapstone is a talc-schist, which is a type of metamorphic rock and it is largely composed of the mineral talc and is thus rich inmagnesium.
Composition
Mineral Content
Silicon
Albite, Apatite, Biotite, Calcite, Carbonate, Clay Minerals, Hornblende, Ilmenite, Micas, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
Compound Content
Silicon Dioxide
CaO, Mg, MgO
Transformation
Metamorphism
No
Yes
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
Weathering
No
No
Types of Weathering
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Erosion
Yes
No
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion
Not Applicable
Properties
Physical Properties
Hardness
7
1
Grain Size
Very fine-grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Conchoidal
Conchoidal
Streak
White
Black
Porosity
Highly Porous
Less Porous
Luster
Vitreous
Greasy
Compressive Strength
450.00 N/mm2
1
225.00 N/mm2
7
Cleavage
Non-Existent
Perfect
Toughness
1.5
1
Specific Gravity
2.5-2.8
2.86
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.7-2.71 g/cm3
2.8-2.9 g/cm3
Thermal Properties
Specific Heat Capacity
0.74 kJ/Kg K
19
0.88 kJ/Kg K
13
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Reserves
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
Azerbaijan, China, Russia
China, India, Indonesia, Japan, North Korea, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Singapore, South Korea, Sri Lanka, Tajikistan, Thailand
Africa
Not Yet Found
Egypt, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
Europe
Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Denmark, France, Germany, Italy, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, Turkey, Ukraine, United Kingdom
Austria, England, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
USA
Canada, USA
South America
Bolivia
Colombia
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New Zealand, South Australia
Central Australia, New Zealand, Queensland
All about Flint and Soapstone Properties
Know all about Flint and Soapstone properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Flint belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Soapstone belongs to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Flint is Banded, Rough whereas that of Soapstone is Polished. Flint appears Glassy or Pearly and Soapstone appears Dull, Banded and Foilated. The luster of Flint is vitreous while that of Soapstone is greasy. Flint is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors whereas Soapstone is available in black, black to grey, green, grey colors. The commercial uses of Flint are creating artwork, gemstone, in fire-starting tools, manufacture of tools, metallurgical flux, jewelry, to ignite fire, used in flintlock firearms and that of Soapstone are cemetery markers, creating artwork, gemstone, jewelry, manufacture of soap, solvents, dyes, plastics and fibres, production of lime, source of magnesia (mgo).
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