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Quartzite vs Siltstone


Siltstone vs Quartzite


Definition

Definition
Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms by the metamorphism of pure quartz Sandstone   
Siltstone can be defined as a fine-grained sedimentary rock which mainly consists of consolidated silt   

History
  
  

Discoverer
Unknown   
Unknown   

Etymology
From quartz + -ite   
From English word silt and stone and from Proto-Indo-European root sal and stainaz   

Class
Metamorphic Rocks   
Sedimentary Rocks   

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   
Durable Rock, Hard Rock   

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable   
Not Applicable   

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

Texture

Texture
Foliated, Granular   
Clastic   

Color
Black, Blue, Brown, Green, Light Grey, Purple, White, Yellow   
Brown, Red, Reddish Brown   

Maintenance
Less   
Less   

Durability
Durable   
Durable   

Water Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Scratch Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Stain Resistant
Yes   
No   

Wind Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Acid Resistant
Yes   
Yes   

Appearance
Lustrous   
Rough   

Uses

Architecture
  
  

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

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

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing   
Curbing   

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
Arrowheads, As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, Cutting Tool, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, Production of Glass and Ceramics, Rail Track Ballast, Roadstone   
Building houses or walls, 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, Jewellery, Monuments, Sculpture   
Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines   

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
An Oil and Gas Reservoir, As armour rock for sea walls, Cemetery Markers, Commemorative Tablets, In aquifers, Laboratory bench tops, Petroleum reservoirs, Soil Conditioner, Source of Magnesia (MgO), Tombstones, Used in aquariums   
Raw material for the manufacture of mortar, Soil Conditioner   

Types

Types
Not Available   
Not Available   

Features
Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock   
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Easily splits into thin plates, Generally rough to touch, High silica content, Very fine grained rock   

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used   
Not Yet Used   

Famous Monuments
Data Not Available   
Not Applicable   

Sculpture
Used   
Used   

Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available   
Data Not Available   

Pictographs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Petroglyphs
Not Used   
Not Used   

Figurines
Used   
Used   

Fossils
Absent   
Present   

Formation

Formation
Quartzite forms from sandstone and the mineral quartz being put under extreme heat and pressure.   
Siltstone is a type of sedimentary rock which is formed from fine rock particles. As the particles of eroded rock travel along with water, the edges of the rock are worn-out by water into a rounded shape.   

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz   
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz, Sand, Silica, Silt   

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide   
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide   

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes   
No   

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism   
Not Applicable   

Weathering
Yes   
Yes   

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

Erosion
Yes   
Yes   

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

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
6-7   
6-7   

Grain Size
Medium Grained   
Fine Grained   

Fracture
Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal   
Conchoidal   

Streak
White   
White   

Porosity
Less Porous   
Highly Porous   

Luster
Vitreous   
Dull   

Compressive Strength
115.00 N/mm2   
18
Not Available   

Cleavage
Indiscernible   
Not Available   

Toughness
1.9   
2.6   

Specific Gravity
2.6-2.8   
2.54-2.73   

Transparency
Transparent to Translucent   
Opaque   

Density
2.32-2.42 g/cm3   
2.6-2.7 g/cm3   

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.75 kJ/Kg K   
18
Not Available   

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant   
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant   

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Israel, Russia, South Korea, Thailand, Turkey   
China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Uzbekistan   

Africa
Ethiopia, Morocco, South Africa, Zimbabwe   
Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa   

Europe
England, Italy, Norway, Scotland, Sweden, United Kingdom   
Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom   

Others
Greenland   
Greenland   

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
Bahamas, Canada, USA   
Canada, USA   

South America
Brazil, Colombia, Venezuela   
Brazil   

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
New Zealand, Queensland, Western Australia   
New South Wales, New Zealand   

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Quartzite vs Siltstone 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 Quartzite and Siltstone Reserves. Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms by the metamorphism of pure quartz Sandstone. Siltstone can be defined as a fine-grained sedimentary rock which mainly consists of consolidated silt. 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 Quartzite vs Siltstone information and Quartzite vs Siltstone characteristics in the upcoming sections.

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Quartzite vs Siltstone 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. Quartzite vs Siltstone characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Quartzite and Properties of Siltstone. Learn more about Quartzite vs Siltstone in the next section. The interior uses of Quartzite include Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Flooring and Homes whereas the interior uses of Siltstone include Decorative aggregates and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Quartzite and Siltstone, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Quartzite in construction industry include Arrowheads, As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, Cutting tool, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Production of glass and ceramics, Rail track ballast, Roadstone and that of Siltstone include Building houses or walls, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Making natural cement, Raw material for the manufacture of mortar.

More about Quartzite and Siltstone

Here you can know more about Quartzite and Siltstone. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Quartzite and Siltstone consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Quartzite includes Chlorite, Epidote, Hematite, Kyanite, Magnetite, Muscovite or Illite, Quartz and mineral content of Siltstone includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz, Sand, Silica, Silt. You can also check out the list of all Metamorphic Rocks. When we have to compare Quartzite vs Siltstone, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Quartzite is available in black, blue, brown, green, light grey, purple, white, yellow colors whereas, Siltstone is available in brown, red, reddish brown colors. Appearance of Quartzite is Lustrous and that of Siltstone is Rough. Properties of rock is another aspect for Quartzite vs Siltstone. Hardness of Quartzite and Siltstone is 6-7. The types of Quartzite are Not Available whereas types of Siltstone are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Quartzite and Siltstone is white. The specific heat capacity of Quartzite is 0.75 kJ/Kg K and that of Siltstone is Not Available. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Quartzite is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, wear resistant whereas Siltstone is heat resistant, impact resistant, pressure resistant, water resistant.

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