Marl and Banded iron formation

Marl

Banded iron formation

Banded iron formation and Marl

Definition

Marl is an unconsolidated sedimentary rock consisting of clay and lime

Banded iron formation are distinctive units of sedimentary rock that are almost always of Precambrian age

History

Origin

Unknown

Western Australia, Minnesota

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From Old French marle, from Late Latin marglia

From its formation process

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Earthy

Banded, Trellis

Color

Beige, Brown, Green, Grey, White

Red, Reddish Brown

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Rough and Dull

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, Roof Tiles

Paving Stone, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Curbing, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar

As Dimension Stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Jewellery, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner

As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Clay Marl ,Blue Marl, Red Marl, High Bank Marl, Shell Layer Marl, Under Shell Layer Marl, Sand Marl, Green Marl, Grey Marl and Clayey Marl

Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite

Features

Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Splintery, Very fine grained rock

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Present

Formation

Marl forms when very fine-grained clay particles are deposited in water which settles at the bottom of water bodies and are compacted by overlying sediment; the water squeezes out and hence forming Marl rock.

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

Calcite, Clay, Dolomite, Gypsum, Micas, Pyrite, Quartz

Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

2-3

5.5-6

Grain Size

Very fine-grained

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Streak

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Dull

Earthy

Cleavage

Not Available

Imperfect

Toughness

2.6

1.5

Specific Gravity

2.2-2.8

5.0-5.3

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.4-2.8 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

3.20 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

India, Pakistan, Russia

China, India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

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

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

USA

Canada, Mexico, USA

South America

Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Bolivia, Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Marl and Banded iron formation Properties

Know all about Marl and Banded iron formation properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Marl and Banded iron formation belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Marl is Earthy whereas that of Banded iron formation is Banded, Trellis. Marl appears Rough and Dull and Banded iron formation appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Marl is dull while that of Banded iron formation is earthy. Marl is available in beige, brown, green, grey, white colors whereas Banded iron formation is available in red, reddish brown colors. The commercial uses of Marl are creating artwork, soil conditioner and that of Banded iron formation are as a touchstone, cemetery markers, creating artwork.