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Obsidian
Obsidian

Slate
Slate



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Obsidian vs Slate

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1 Definition
1.1 Definition
Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism
1.2 History
1.2.1 Origin
Ethiopia
England
1.2.2 Discoverer
Obsius
Unknown
1.3 Etymology
From Latin obsidianus, misprint of Obsianus (lapis) (stone) of Obsius
From Old French esclate, from esclat (French éclat)
1.4 Class
Igneous Rocks
Metamorphic Rocks
1.4.1 Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
1.5 Family
1.5.1 Group
Volcanic
Not Applicable
1.6 Other Categories
Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
2 Texture
2.1 Texture
Glassy
Foliated
2.2 Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Orange, Red, Tan, Yellow
Black, Brown, Buff, Green, Light to Dark Grey, Purple, Red, Shades of Blue
2.3 Maintenance
Less
Less
2.4 Durability
Durable
Durable
2.4.1 Water Resistant
2.4.2 Scratch Resistant
2.4.3 Stain Resistant
2.4.4 Wind Resistant
2.4.5 Acid Resistant
2.5 Appearance
Shiny
Dull
3 Uses
3.1 Architecture
3.1.1 Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads
3.1.2 Exterior Uses
Garden Decoration
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
3.1.3 Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used
Curbing
3.2 Industry
3.2.1 Construction Industry
Arrowheads, Cutting Tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear Points
As Dimension Stone
3.2.2 Medical Industry
Surgery
Not Yet Used
3.3 Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Jewellery
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
3.4 Other Uses
3.4.1 Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Mirror, Used in aquariums
Blackboards, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Standard material for the bed of Billiard table, Standard material for the beds of Pool and Snooker table, Tombstones, Used in aquariums, Writing Slates
4 Types
4.1 Types
Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian
Not Available
4.2 Features
Blocks negativity, Helps to protect against depression
Easily splits into thin plates, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock
4.3 Archaeological Significance
4.3.1 Monuments
Not Yet Used
Used
4.3.2 Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
Data Not Available
4.3.3 Sculpture
Not Yet Used
Used
4.3.4 Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable
Data Not Available
4.3.5 Pictographs
Used
Used
4.3.6 Petroglyphs
Used
Used
4.3.7 Figurines
Not Yet Used
Used
4.4 Fossils
Absent
Absent
5 Formation
5.1 Formation
When the lava is released from volcano, it undergoes a very rapid cooling which freezes the mechanisms of crystallization. The result is a volcanic glass with a uniform smooth texture.
Slate is a low grade metamorphic rock that is generally formed by metamorphosis of mudstone or shale, under relatively low pressure and temperature conditions.
5.2 Composition
5.2.1 Mineral Content
Not Available
Apatite, Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Graphite, Hematite, Kaolinite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Tourmaline, Zircon
5.2.2 Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
5.3 Transformation
5.3.1 Metamorphism
5.3.2 Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism
5.3.3 Weathering
5.3.4 Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
5.3.5 Erosion
5.3.6 Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion
Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
6 Properties
6.1 Physical Properties
6.1.1 Hardness
5-5.53-4
Coal
1 7
6.1.2 Grain Size
Not Applicable
Very fine-grained
6.1.3 Fracture
Conchoidal
Splintery
6.1.4 Streak
White
Light to dark brown
6.1.5 Porosity
Very Less Porous
Less Porous
6.1.6 Luster
Vitreous
Dull
6.1.7 Compressive Strength
0.15 N/mm230.00 N/mm2
Granite
0.15 450
6.1.8 Cleavage
Non-Existent
Slaty
6.1.9 Toughness
Not Available
1.2
6.1.10 Specific Gravity
2.6-2.72.65-2.8
Granite
0 8.4
6.1.11 Transparency
Translucent
Opaque
6.1.12 Density
2.6 g/cm32.6-2.8 g/cm3
Granite
0 1400
6.2 Thermal Properties
6.2.1 Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K0.76 kJ/Kg K
Granulite
0.14 3.2
6.2.2 Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant
7 Reserves
7.1 Deposits in Eastern Continents
7.1.1 Asia
Afghanistan, Indonesia, Japan, Russia
China, India, Turkey
7.1.2 Africa
Kenya
Not Yet Found
7.1.3 Europe
Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Italy, Turkey
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom
7.1.4 Others
Not Yet Found
Arctic
7.2 Deposits in Western Continents
7.2.1 North America
Canada, Mexico, USA
USA
7.2.2 South America
Argentina, Chile, Ecuador, Peru
Brazil
7.3 Deposits in Oceania Continent
7.3.1 Australia
New Zealand
Not Yet Found

Obsidian vs Slate Information

Earth’s outer layer is covered by rocks and these rocks have different physical and chemical properties. As two rocks are not same, it’s fun to compare them. You can also know more about Obsidian and Slate Reserves. Obsidian is a naturally occurring volcanic glass formed as an extrusive igneous rock. It is produced when felsic lava extruded from a volcano cools rapidly with minimum crystal growth. Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism. These rocks are composed of many distinct minerals. The process of formation of rocks is different for various rocks. Rocks are quarried from many years for various purposes. You can check out Obsidian vs Slate information and Obsidian vs Slate characteristics in the upcoming sections.

Obsidian vs Slate 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. Obsidian vs Slate characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Obsidian and Properties of Slate. Learn more about Obsidian vs Slate in the next section. The interior uses of Obsidian include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Slate include Bathrooms, Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior decoration, Kitchens and Stair treads. Due to some exceptional properties of Obsidian and Slate, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Obsidian in construction industry include Arrowheads, Cutting tool, Knives, Scrapers, Spear points and that of Slate include As dimension stone.

More about Obsidian and Slate

Here you can know more about Obsidian and Slate. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Obsidian and Slate consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Obsidian is not available and mineral content of Slate includes Apatite, Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Graphite, Hematite, Kaolinite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Tourmaline, Zircon. You can also check out the list of all Igneous Rocks. When we have to compare Obsidian vs Slate, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Obsidian is available in black, blue, brown, green, orange, red, tan, yellow colors whereas, Slate is available in black, brown, buff, green, light to dark grey, purple, red, shades of blue colors. Appearance of Obsidian is Shiny and that of Slate is Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Obsidian vs Slate. The hardness of Obsidian is 5-5.5 and that of Slate is 3-4. The types of Obsidian are Fireworks Obsidian, Mahogany, Sheen Obsidian, Snowflake obsidian and Velvet Peacock Obsidian whereas types of Slate are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Obsidian is white while that of Slate is light to dark brown. The specific heat capacity of Obsidian is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Slate is 0.76 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Obsidian is heat resistant, impact resistant whereas Slate is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant.