Gabbro and Argillite

Gabbro

Argillite

Definition

Gabbro is an intrusive igneous rock which is chemically equivalent to plutonic Basalt

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

History

Origin

Germany

Unknown

Discoverer

Christian Leopold von Buch

Unknown

Etymology

From Latin glaber bare, smooth, bald

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

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group

Plutonic

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Phaneritic

Clastic, Polished

Color

Dark Grey to Black

Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Veined and Shiny

Rough and Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Curbing, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Building houses or walls, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

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

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Jewelry, Sea Defence, Tombstones

Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends

Types

Not Available

Features

Smooth to touch

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Present

Formation

Gabbro, a mafic rock, forms due to cooling and crystallization of magma underneath Earth's surface.

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.

Composition

Mineral Content

Augite, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene

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

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Sulfur Trioxide

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Impact Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Biological Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion

Chemical Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

2-3

Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Conchoidal to Uneven

Streak

Black

White to Grey

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Not Available

Waxy and Dull

Compressive Strength

225.00 N/mm²

Not Available

Cleavage

Not Available

Slaty

Toughness

1.6

2.6

Specific Gravity

2.86-2.87

2.56-2.68

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.7-3.3 g/cm³

2.54-2.66 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

0.87 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India, Russia

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

Africa

South Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

Germany, Greece, Italy, Scotland, Turkey

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

Others

Greenland

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

USA

South America

Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, Queensland

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

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Gabbro and Argillite Properties

Know all about Gabbro and Argillite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gabbro belongs to Igneous Rocks while Argillite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Gabbro is Phaneritic whereas that of Argillite is Clastic, Polished. Gabbro appears Veined and Shiny and Argillite appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Gabbro is not available while that of Argillite is waxy and dull. Gabbro is available in dark grey to black colors whereas Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Gabbro are cemetery markers, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, jewelry, sea defence, tombstones and that of Argillite are fire resistant, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends.