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Oolite and Taconite


Taconite and Oolite


Definition

Definition
Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains which are composed of concentric layers of calcite  
Taconite is a low-grade iron ore which belongs to sedimentary rock and containing about 27% iron and 51% silica  

History
  
  

Origin
-  
Western Australia, Minnesota  

Discoverer
William Smith  
Newton Horace Winchell  

Etymology
From oo- + -lite, after German Oolit. A rock consisting of fine grains of carbonate of lime  
From the name of Taconic Mountains in New England  

Class
Sedimentary Rocks  
Sedimentary Rocks  

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

Family
  
  

Group
Volcanic  
-  

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

Texture

Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic  
Banded, Trellis  

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

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
No  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
Yes  
No  

Wind Resistant
No  
Yes  

Acid Resistant
No  
No  

Appearance
Rounded and Rough  
Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration  
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration  

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

Other Architectural Uses
-  
Curbing  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Landscaping  
As Dimension Stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.  

Medical Industry
-  
-  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts  
Artifacts  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Used in aquariums  
As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork  

Types

Types
Pisolitic Oolite and Oncolitic Oolite  
Iron formation  

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  
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.  
Taconite is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock as it flows. When the river reaches a lake or sea, its load of transported rocks settles or deposits at the bottom of sea or lake.   

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
No  
No  

Types of Metamorphism
-  
-  

Weathering
Yes  
Yes  

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

Erosion
Yes  
Yes  

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3-4  
5.5-6  

Grain Size
Fine Grained  
Large and Coarse Grained  

Fracture
Conchoidal  
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal  

Streak
White  
White  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Highly Porous  

Luster
Pearly to Shiny  
Earthy  

Compressive Strength
40.00 N/mm2  
40
190.00 N/mm2  
15

Cleavage
-  
-  

Toughness
1  
1.5  

Specific Gravity
-9999  
5-5.3  

Transparency
Opaque  
Translucent to Opaque  

Density
-9999 g/cm3  
-9999 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.65 kJ/Kg K  
25
3.20 kJ/Kg K  
1

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  

Summary >>
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All about Oolite and Taconite Properties

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

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