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Oolite and Marl


Marl and Oolite


Definition

Definition
Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains which are composed of concentric layers of calcite   
Marl is an unconsolidated sedimentary rock consisting of clay and lime   

History
  
  

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From oo- + -lite, after German Oolit. A rock consisting of fine grains of carbonate of lime   
From Old French marle, from Late Latin marglia   

Class
Sedimentary Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock   
Durable Rock, Soft Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic   
Not Applicable   

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock   

Texture

Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic   
Earthy   

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

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
No   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
No   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
No   

Wind Resistant
No   
No   

Acid Resistant
No   
No   

Appearance
Rounded and Rough   
Rough and Dull   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration   
Decorative Aggregates, Floor Tiles   

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone   
As Building Stone, Roof Tiles   

Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

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

Medical Industry
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts   
Artifacts, Jewellery, Sculpture, Small Figurines   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Used in aquariums   
Creating Artwork, Soil Conditioner   

Types

Types
Not Available   
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   

Features
Available in lots of colors, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock   
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Splintery, Very fine grained rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Not Yet Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Not Applicable   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Used   
Used   

Petroglyphs
Used   
Used   

Figurines
Not Yet Used   
Used   

Fossils
Present   
Present   

Formation

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.   
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.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt   
Calcite, Clay, Dolomite, Gypsum, Micas, Pyrite, Quartz   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, Ca, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO   
Aluminium Oxide, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
No   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering   
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering   

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion   
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion   

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3-4   
2-3   

Grain Size
Fine Grained   
Very fine-grained   

Fracture
Conchoidal   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Pearly to Shiny   
Dull   

Cleavage
Non-Existent   
Not Available   

Toughness
1   
2.6   

Specific Gravity
Not Available   
2.2-2.8   

Transparency
Opaque   
Opaque   

Density
Not Available   
2.4-2.8 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam   
India, Pakistan, Russia   

Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe   
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa   

Europe
United Kingdom   
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland   

Others
Not Yet Found   
Not Yet Found   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA   
USA   

South America
Colombia   
Colombia, Ecuador, Peru   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Tonga, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula   
New South Wales, Victoria, Western Australia   

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Oolite and Marl Properties

Know all about Oolite and Marl properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Oolite and Marl belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Oolite is Clastic or Non-Clastic whereas that of Marl is Earthy. Oolite appears Rounded and Rough and Marl appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Oolite is pearly to shiny while that of Marl is dull. Oolite is available in black, blue, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, silver, white, yellow colors whereas Marl is available in beige, brown, green, grey, white colors. The commercial uses of Oolite are creating artwork, jewelry, used in aquariums and that of Marl are creating artwork, soil conditioner.

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