Definition
Gneiss is a common and widely distributed type of rock formed by high-grade regional metamorphic processes from pre-existing formations that were originally either igneous or sedimentary rocks
  
Banded iron formation are distinctive units of sedimentary rock that are almost always of Precambrian age
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
Western Australia, Minnesota
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From the Middle High German verb gneist (to spark; so called because the rock glitters)
  
From its formation process
  
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
  
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Banded, Foliated, Platy
  
Banded, Trellis
  
Color
Black, Brown, Pink, Red, White
  
Red, Reddish Brown
  
Maintenance
More
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Foliated
  
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, 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 Dimension Stone
  
As Dimension Stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Jewelry, Tombstones, Used in aquariums
  
As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Augen Gneiss, Henderson Gneiss, Lewisian Gneiss, Archean and Proterozoic Gneiss.
  
Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite
  
Features
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Is one of the oldest rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Konark Sun Temple in India, Washington Monument, US
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Not Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Not Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Present
  
Formation
Gneiss is a high grade metamorphic rock i.e. it has been subjected to higher temperatures and pressures than schist. It is formed by the metamorphosis of Gneiss forms from volcanic rock, shale or granitie.
  
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
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica, Zircon
  
Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, MgO, MnO, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Impact Metamorphism
  
Not Applicable
  
Weathering
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
  
Chemical Weathering
  
Erosion
Yes
  
Yes
  
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion
  
Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
7
  
5.5-6
  
Grain Size
Medium to Coarse Grained
  
Large and Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Irregular
  
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Very Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Dull
  
Earthy
  
Compressive Strength
125.00 N/mm
2
  
17
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Poor
  
Imperfect
  
Toughness
1.2
  
1.5
  
Specific Gravity
2.5-2.7
  
5.0-5.3
  
Transparency
Translucent to Opaque
  
Translucent to Opaque
  
Density
2.6-2.9 g/cm3
  
Not Available
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
Not Available
  
3.20 kJ/Kg K
  
1
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Scratch Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Iran, Iraq, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Mongolia, Russia
  
China, India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam
  
Africa
Cameroon, Ethiopia, Ghana, Kenya, Madagascar, Morocco, Mozambique, Namibia, Nigeria, Tanzania, Togo
  
Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
Albania, Austria, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Finland, France, Georgia, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Kosovo, Monaco, Norway, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia, Slovenia, Switzerland, Ukraine, 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
Canada, Costa Rica, Cuba, Mexico, Panama, USA
  
Canada, Mexico, USA
  
South America
Argentina, Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
  
Bolivia, Brazil
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria
  
New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
Gneiss 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. Gneiss vs Banded iron formation characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Gneiss and Properties of Banded iron formation. Learn more about Gneiss vs Banded iron formation in the next section. The interior uses of Gneiss include Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Banded iron formation include Decorative aggregates and Homes. Due to some exceptional properties of Gneiss and Banded iron formation, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Gneiss in construction industry include As dimension stone and that of Banded iron formation include As dimension stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills..
More about Gneiss and Banded iron formation
Here you can know more about Gneiss 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 Gneiss and Banded iron formation consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Gneiss includes Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Garnet, Graphite, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz, Quartzite, Silica, Zircon and mineral content of Banded iron formation includes Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Gneiss vs Banded iron formation, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors whereas, Banded iron formation is available in red, reddish brown colors. Appearance of Gneiss is Foliated and that of Banded iron formation is Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. Properties of rock is another aspect for Gneiss vs Banded iron formation. The hardness of Gneiss is 7 and that of Banded iron formation is 5.5-6. The types of Gneiss are Augen Gneiss, Henderson Gneiss, Lewisian Gneiss, Archean and Proterozoic Gneiss. 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 Gneiss and Banded iron formation is white. The specific heat capacity of Gneiss is Not Available 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.Gneiss is heat resistant, pressure resistant, scratch resistant, wear resistant whereas Banded iron formation is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.