Definition
Oolite is a sedimentary rock formed from ooids, spherical grains which are composed of concentric layers of calcite
  
Ijolite is an intrusive igneous rock which is composed mainly of nepheline and an alkali pyroxene, usually aegirine-augite
  
History
  
  
Origin
Unknown
  
Finland, Europe
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From oo- + -lite, after German Oolit. A rock consisting of fine grains of carbonate of lime
  
From the first syllable of the Finnish words Ii-vaara, Iijoki, &c. commonly used geographical names in Finland, and the Gr. Xiflos, a stone
  
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Igneous Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Volcanic
  
Plutonic
  
Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic
  
Earthy, Granular
  
Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, Red, Silver, White, Yellow
  
Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Stain Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Wind Resistant
No
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
No
  
No
  
Appearance
Rounded and Rough
  
Banded and Foilated
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Interior Decoration
  
Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration, Kitchens
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone
  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings, Paving Stone
  
Other Architectural Uses
Not Yet Used
  
Curbing
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Landscaping
  
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts
  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Creating Artwork, Jewelry, Used in aquariums
  
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
  
Types
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Features
Available in lots of colors, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock
  
Application of acids on the surface causes cloudy frosting, Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Not Yet Used
  
Used
  
Famous Monuments
Not Applicable
  
Data Not Available
  
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
  
Absent
  
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.
  
Ijolite is a fine-grained, hard rock which is a type of metasomatite, essentially altered basalt. It forms with or without crystallization, either below the surface as intrusive rocks or on the surface as extrusive rocks.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt
  
Albite, Amphibole, Biotite, Cancrinite, Feldspar, Hornblende, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Sodalite
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, Ca, NaCl, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, MgO
  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
No
  
Yes
  
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism
  
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, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
3-4
  
5.5-6
  
Grain Size
Fine Grained
  
Coarse Grained
  
Fracture
Conchoidal
  
Conchoidal to Uneven
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Less Porous
  
Luster
Pearly to Shiny
  
Greasy to Dull
  
Cleavage
Non-Existent
  
Poor
  
Toughness
1
  
Not Available
  
Specific Gravity
Not Available
  
2.6-2.76
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
Not Available
  
2.6 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam
  
Indonesia, Iran, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
  
Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe
  
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
  
Europe
United Kingdom
  
England, Finland, Germany, Great Britain, Greece, United Kingdom
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Colombia
  
Colombia
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Tonga, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula
  
New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia
  
Oolite vs Ijolite 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. Oolite vs Ijolite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Oolite and Properties of Ijolite. Learn more about Oolite vs Ijolite in the next section. The interior uses of Oolite include Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Ijolite include Decorative aggregates, Entryways, Floor tiles, Flooring, Homes, Interior decoration and Kitchens. Due to some exceptional properties of Oolite and Ijolite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Oolite in construction industry include Cement manufacture, Cobblestones, Landscaping and that of Ijolite include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of magnesium and dolomite refractories.
More about Oolite and Ijolite
Here you can know more about Oolite and Ijolite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Oolite and Ijolite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Oolite includes Calcite, Chert, Clay, Dolomite, Quartz, Sand, Silt and mineral content of Ijolite includes Albite, Amphibole, Biotite, Cancrinite, Feldspar, Hornblende, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Sodalite. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Oolite vs Ijolite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Oolite is available in black, blue, brown, cream, green, grey, pink, red, silver, white, yellow colors whereas, Ijolite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors. Appearance of Oolite is Rounded and Rough and that of Ijolite is Banded and Foilated. Properties of rock is another aspect for Oolite vs Ijolite. The hardness of Oolite is 3-4 and that of Ijolite is 5.5-6. The types of Oolite are Not Available whereas types of Ijolite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Oolite and Ijolite is white. The specific heat capacity of Oolite is Not Available and that of Ijolite is Not Available. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Oolite is heat resistant, wear resistant whereas Ijolite is heat resistant, impact resistant, wear resistant.