Oolite

Banded iron formation

Oolite and Banded iron formation

Oolite

Banded iron formation

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Definition

Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains which are composed of concentric layers of calcite

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

History

Origin

Western Australia, Minnesota

Discoverer

William Smith

Johann Gottlob Lehmann

Etymology

From oo- + -lite, after German Oolit. A rock consisting of fine grains of carbonate of lime

From its formation process

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Volcanic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Clastic or Non-Clastic

Banded, Trellis

Color

Black, Blue, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Silver, White, Yellow

Red, Reddish Brown

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Rounded and Rough

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

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, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Landscaping

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

Medical Industry

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Used in aquariums

As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Pisolitic Oolite and Oncolitic Oolite

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

Features

Available in lots of colors, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Present

Formation

Oolites form when layers of calcite are deposited around a sand grain or fossil piece and are rolled around in calm water, which makes them round.

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, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt

Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz

Compound Content

Aluminium Oxide, Ca, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO

Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

3-45.5-6

1 7

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Grain Size

Fine Grained

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Streak

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Pearly to Shiny

Earthy

Compressive Strength

40.00 N/mm²220.00 N/mm²

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Toughness

1.5

Specific Gravity

-99995.0-5.3

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

-9999 g/cm³-9999 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.65 kJ/Kg K3.20 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

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

Africa

Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

United Kingdom

Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

Others

Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada, Mexico, USA

South America

Colombia

Bolivia, Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

All about Oolite and Banded iron formation Properties

Know all about Oolite and Banded iron formation properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Oolite and Banded iron formation belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Oolite is Clastic or Non-Clastic whereas that of Banded iron formation is Banded, Trellis. Oolite appears Rounded and Rough and Banded iron formation appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Oolite is pearly to shiny while that of Banded iron formation is earthy. Oolite is available in black, blue, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, silver, white, yellow colors whereas Banded iron formation is available in red, reddish brown colors. The commercial uses of Oolite are creating artwork, jewelry, used in aquariums and that of Banded iron formation are as a touchstone, cemetery markers, creating artwork.