Shale and Aplite

Shale

Aplite

Aplite and Shale

Definition

Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock which is formed by the compaction of silt and clay-size mineral particles

Aplite is a fine-grained granite composed mainly of feldspar and quartz

History

Origin

Unknown

Iran

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From German Schalstein laminated limestone, and Schalgebirge layer of stone in stratified rock. From Old English scealu in its base sense of- thing that divides or separate,

From German Aplit, from Greek haploos simple + -ite

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Plutonic

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Clastic, Splintery

Granular, Graphic

Color

Black, Brown, Buff, Green, Grey, Red, Yellow

Black, Grey, Orange, Pink, White

Maintenance

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Muddy

Veined or Pebbled

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Homes, Hotels, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Office Buildings

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Bridges, Paving Stone, Near Swimming Pools, Office Buildings, Resorts

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

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

As Dimension Stone

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Creating Artwork, Pottery

Curling, Gemstone, Laboratory bench tops, Small Sculptures, Tombstones

Types

Red Shale, Black Shale, Green Shale, Grey Shale and Yellow Shale

Not Available

Features

Easily splits into thin plates, Generally rough to touch, Very fine grained rock

Available in lots of colors, Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Jantar Mantar in India

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Present

Absent

Formation

Shale forms when very fine-grained clay particles are deposited in water which settle at the bottom of water bodies. They are later compacted hence forming shale.

Aplites belong to intrusive igneous rocks which are mostly quart and alkali feldspar and are formed from residual eutectic granitic liquids and represent the final crystallization products of magma.

Composition

Mineral Content

Albite, Biotite, Calcite, Chert, Chlorite, Dolomite, Hematite, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyrite, Quartz, Silica, Sulfides

Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz

Compound Content

Ca, Fe, Mg, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium

Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6.5

Grain Size

Very fine-grained

Fracture

Not Available

Streak

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Less Porous

Luster

Dull

Dull to Pearly to Subvitreous

Compressive Strength

95.00 N/mm²

130.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Slaty

Not Available

Toughness

2.6

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.2-2.8

2.6

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.4-2.8 g/cm³

2.6 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.39 kJ/Kg K

0.79 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Heat Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam

Africa

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Europe

Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland

Austria, Belgium, Finland, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Sardinia, Spain, Switzerland, The Czech Republic, Venezuela

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

Canada, USA

South America

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

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

Not Yet Found

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Shale and Aplite Properties

Know all about Shale and Aplite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Shale belongs to Sedimentary Rocks while Aplite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Shale is Clastic, Splintery whereas that of Aplite is Granular, Graphic. Shale appears Muddy and Aplite appears Veined or Pebbled. The luster of Shale is dull while that of Aplite is dull to pearly to subvitreous. Shale is available in black, brown, buff, green, grey, red, yellow colors whereas Aplite is available in black, grey, orange, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Shale are creating artwork, pottery and that of Aplite are curling, gemstone, laboratory bench tops, small sculptures, tombstones.