Litchfieldite

Argillite

Litchfieldite and Argillite

Litchfieldite

Argillite

Add ⊕

1 Definition

1.2 Definition

Litchfieldite is a rare igneous rock which is coarse-grained, foliated and a variety of nepheline syenite, sometimes also called as nepheline syenite gneiss or gneissic nepeheline syenite

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

1.3 History

1.3.1 Origin

USA

Unknown

1.3.2 Discoverer

Bayley

Unknown

1.4 Etymology

From its occurrence at Litchfield, Maine, USA

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

1.5 Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

1.5.1 Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

1.6 Family

1.6.1 Group

Plutonic

Not Applicable

1.7 Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

2 Texture

2.1 Texture

Granular

Clastic, Polished

2.2 Color

Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White

Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White

2.3 Maintenance

Less

2.4 Durability

Durable

2.4.1 Water Resistant

✔ ✘

81% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

59% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.3 Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

86% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

62% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.4.6 Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

66% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

43% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.5.1 Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

49% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

38% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.5.2 Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

48% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

22% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

2.6 Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Rough and Dull

3 Uses

3.1 Architecture

3.1.1 Interior Uses

Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

3.1.2 Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing 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

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories, Production of Glass and Ceramics

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

3.2.2 Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

3.3 Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

3.4 Other Uses

3.4.1 Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork

Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends

4 Types

4.1 Types

Borolanite and Litchfieldite

Not Available

4.2 Features

Application of acids on the surface causes cloudy frosting, Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Dissolves in hydrochloric acid, Is one of the oldest rock

Is one of the oldest rock

4.3 Archaeological Significance

4.3.1 Monuments

Used

4.3.2 Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

4.3.3 Sculpture

Used

4.3.4 Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

4.3.5 Pictographs

Used

4.3.6 Petroglyphs

Used

4.3.7 Figurines

Used

4.4 Fossils

Absent

Present

5 Formation

5.1 Formation

Litchfieldite 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

Albite, Amphibole, Biotite, Cancrinite, Feldspar, Hornblende, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Sodalite

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

✔ ✘

97% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

19% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism

Not Applicable

5.3.3 Weathering

✔ ✘

99% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

78% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

5.3.4 Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering

5.3.5 Erosion

✔ ✘

92% Igneous Rocks Rocks have it !

✔ ✘

86% Sedimentary Rocks Rocks have it !

5.3.6 Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion

6 Properties

6.1 Physical Properties

6.1.1 Hardness

5.5-6

2-3

6.1.2 Grain Size

Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

6.1.3 Fracture

Conchoidal to Uneven

6.1.4 Streak

White

White to Grey

6.1.5 Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

6.1.6 Luster

Greasy to Dull

Waxy and Dull

6.1.7 Compressive Strength

What Is Flint

⊕

▶

▼

150.00 N/mm²

Rank: 14 (Overall)▶

Not Available

Rank: N/A (Overall)▶

▲

What Is Obsidian

⊕

▶

175 (What Is Grani..)

◀ ▶ ADD ⊕

6.1.8 Cleavage

Poor

Slaty

6.1.9 Toughness

Not Available

2.6

6.1.10 Specific Gravity

2.6

2.56-2.68

6.1.11 Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

6.1.12 Density

2.6 g/cm³

2.54-2.66 g/cm³

6.2 Thermal Properties

6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity

What Is Banded ..

⊕

▶

▼

Not Available

Rank: N/A (Overall)▶

0.87 kJ/Kg K

Rank: 14 (Overall)▶

▲

What Is Granulite

⊕

▶

1.09 (What Is Trave..)

◀ ▶ ADD ⊕

6.2.2 Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

7 Reserves

7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents

7.1.1 Asia

Not Yet Found

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

7.1.2 Africa

South Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

7.1.3 Europe

Finland, Norway, Portugal

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

USA

7.2.2 South America

Brazil

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent

7.3.1 Australia

Not Yet Found

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

All about Litchfieldite and Argillite Properties

Know all about Litchfieldite and Argillite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Litchfieldite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Argillite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Litchfieldite is Granular whereas that of Argillite is Clastic, Polished. Litchfieldite appears Banded and Foilated and Argillite appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Litchfieldite is greasy to dull while that of Argillite is waxy and dull. Litchfieldite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors whereas Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Litchfieldite are creating artwork and that of Argillite are fire resistant, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends.