Definition
Mylonite is a metamorphic rock formed by ductile deformation during intense shearing encountered during folding and faulting, a process termed cataclastic or dynamic metamorphism
Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed by the compaction of silt and clay-size mineral particles
Discoverer
Unknown
Johann Gottlob Lehmann
Etymology
From Greek mulōn mill + -ite
From German Schalstein laminated limestone, and Schalgebirge layer of stone in stratified rock. From Old English scealu in its base sense of- thing that divides or separate,
Class
Metamorphic Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Foliated
Clastic, Splintery
Color
Black to Grey
Black, Brown, Buff, Green, Grey, Red, Yellow
Durability
Durable
Durable
Appearance
Dull, Banded and Foilated
Muddy
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing
Construction Industry
for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone
Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments
Artifacts, Sculpture
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Gemstone, Jewelry
Creating Artwork, Pottery
Types
Blastomylonites, Ultramylonites and Phyllonites
Red Shale, Black Shale, Green Shale, Grey Shale and Yellow Shale
Features
Surfaces are often shiny
Easily splits into thin plates, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock
Archaeological Significance
Famous Monuments
-
Jantar Mantar in India
Formation
Mylonites are ductilely deformed rocks formed by the accumulation of large shear strain, in ductile fault zones.
Shale forms when very fine-grained clay particles are deposited in water which settle at the bottom of water bodies. They are later compacted hence forming shale.
Mineral Content
Porphyroblasts
Albite, Biotite, Calcite, Chert, Chlorite, Dolomite, Hematite, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyrite, Quartz, Silica, Sulfides
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, Calcium Sulfate, Chromium(III) Oxide, Iron(III) Oxide, Magnesium Carbonate, Silicon Dioxide
Ca, Fe, Mg, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium
Types of Metamorphism
-
-
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Wind Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
Grain Size
Fine Grained
Very fine-grained
Porosity
Highly Porous
Highly Porous
Cleavage
Conchoidal
Slaty
Specific Gravity
2.97-3.05
2.2-2.8
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
2.6-4.8 g/cm3
2.4-2.8 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
China, India, Indonesia, Saudi Arabia, South Korea
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia
Africa
Eritrea, Ethiopia, Ghana, South Africa, Western Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
Europe
England, Finland, France, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, United Kingdom
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Deposits in Western Continents
South America
-
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
Central Australia, Western Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia
Mylonite vs Shale 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. Mylonite vs Shale characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Mylonite and Properties of Shale. Learn more about Mylonite vs Shale in the next section. The interior uses of Mylonite include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Shale include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Mylonite and Shale, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Mylonite in construction industry include For road aggregate, Landscaping, Roadstone and that of Shale include Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar.
More about Mylonite and Shale
Here you can know more about Mylonite and Shale. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Mylonite and Shale consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Mylonite includes Porphyroblasts and mineral content of Shale includes Albite, Biotite, Calcite, Chert, Chlorite, Dolomite, Hematite, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyrite, Quartz, Silica, Sulfides. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Mylonite vs Shale, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Mylonite is available in black to grey colors whereas, Shale is available in black, brown, buff, green, grey, red, yellow colors. Appearance of Mylonite is Dull, Banded and Foilated and that of Shale is Muddy. Properties of rock is another aspect for Mylonite vs Shale. The hardness of Mylonite is 3-4 and that of Shale is 3. The types of Mylonite are Blastomylonites, Ultramylonites and Phyllonites whereas types of Shale are Red Shale, Black Shale, Green Shale, Grey Shale and Yellow Shale. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Mylonite and Shale is white. The specific heat capacity of Mylonite is 1.50 kJ/Kg K and that of Shale is 0.39 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Mylonite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant whereas Shale is heat resistant, impact resistant.