Siltstone and Banded iron formation

Siltstone

Banded iron formation

Banded iron formation and Siltstone

Definition

Siltstone can be defined as a fine-grained sedimentary rock which mainly consists of consolidated silt

Banded iron formation are distinctive units of sedimentary rock that are almost always of Precambrian age

History

Origin

Unknown

Western Australia, Minnesota

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From English word silt and stone and from Proto-Indo-European root sal and stainaz

From its formation process

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard Rock

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Clastic

Banded, Trellis

Color

Brown, Red, Reddish Brown

Red, Reddish Brown

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Rough

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration

Paving Stone, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Curbing, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

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

As Dimension Stone, Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Raw material for the manufacture of mortar, Soil Conditioner

As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Not Available

Algoma-type , Lake Superior-type, Superior-type and Taconite

Features

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

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Sculpture

Used

Not Yet Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Not Applicable

Pictographs

Not Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Figurines

Used

Not Yet Used

Fossils

Present

Formation

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.

The banded iron layers are formed in sea water when oxygen is released by photosynthetic cyano-bacteria. The oxygen then combines with dissolved iron in ocean to form insoluble iron oxides, which precipitated out, forming a thin layer of banded iron formation on ocean floor.

Composition

Mineral Content

Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Feldspar, Micas, Quartz, Sand, Silica, Silt

Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz

Compound Content

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

Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

Types of Metamorphism

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Chemical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Wind Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

5.5-6

Grain Size

Fine Grained

Large and Coarse Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Streak

White

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Dull

Earthy

Cleavage

Not Available

Imperfect

Toughness

2.6

1.5

Specific Gravity

2.54-2.73

5.0-5.3

Transparency

Opaque

Translucent to Opaque

Density

2.6-2.7 g/cm³

Not Available

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

Not Available

3.20 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Kazakhstan, Mongolia, Russia, Uzbekistan

China, India, Iran, Iraq, Oman, Russia, Saudi Arabia, Taiwan, Thailand, Vietnam

Africa

Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

Austria, Denmark, Germany, Great Britain, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Sweden, Switzerland, United Kingdom

Austria, France, Greece, Italy, Malta, Poland, Portugal, Serbia, Spain, Sweden, United Kingdom

Others

Greenland

Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, USA

Canada, Mexico, USA

South America

Brazil

Bolivia, Brazil

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, New Zealand

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Siltstone and Banded iron formation Properties

Know all about Siltstone and Banded iron formation properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Siltstone and Banded iron formation belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Siltstone is Clastic whereas that of Banded iron formation is Banded, Trellis. Siltstone appears Rough and Banded iron formation appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny. The luster of Siltstone is dull while that of Banded iron formation is earthy. Siltstone and Banded iron formation are available in brown, red, reddish brown colors. The commercial uses of Siltstone are raw material for the manufacture of mortar, soil conditioner and that of Banded iron formation are as a touchstone, cemetery markers, creating artwork.