Slate and Shonkinite

Slate

Shonkinite

Definition

Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism

Shonkinite is a rare, dark-coloured and intrusive igneous rock which contains augite and orthoclase feldspar as its primary constituents

History

Origin

England

USA

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From Old French esclate, from esclat (French éclat)

From the name of Shonkin Sag ranges in the Highwood Mountains of north-central Montana, US

Class

Metamorphic Rocks

Igneous Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Family

Group

Not Applicable

Other Categories

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Foliated

Earthy

Color

Black, Brown, Buff, Green, Light to Dark Grey, Purple, Red, Shades of Blue

Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Acid Resistant

Appearance

Dull

Banded and Foilated

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads

Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone

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

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Blackboards, Commemorative Tablets, Laboratory bench tops, Standard material for the bed of Billiard table, Standard material for the beds of Pool and Snooker table, Tombstones, Used in aquariums, Writing Slates

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Types

Not Available

Features

Easily splits into thin plates, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock

Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Used

Famous Monuments

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Used

Petroglyphs

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Formation

Slate is a low grade metamorphic rock that is generally formed by metamorphosis of mudstone or shale, under relatively low pressure and temperature conditions.

Shonkinites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.

Composition

Mineral Content

Apatite, Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Graphite, Hematite, Kaolinite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Tourmaline, Zircon

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

Compound Content

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

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

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

3-4

5.5-6

Grain Size

Very fine-grained

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fracture

Splintery

Not Available

Streak

Light to dark brown

White

Porosity

Less Porous

Luster

Dull

Subvitreous to Dull

Compressive Strength

30.00 N/mm²

150.00 N/mm²

Cleavage

Slaty

Perfect

Toughness

1.2

Not Available

Specific Gravity

2.65-2.8

2.6-2.7

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.6-2.8 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.76 kJ/Kg K

0.92 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

China, India, Turkey

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

Africa

Not Yet Found

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

Europe

Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom

Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland

Others

Arctic

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

South America

Brazil

Brazil, Chile

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

Not Yet Found

New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Slate and Shonkinite Properties

Know all about Slate and Shonkinite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Slate belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Shonkinite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Slate is Foliated whereas that of Shonkinite is Earthy. Slate appears Dull and Shonkinite appears Banded and Foilated. The luster of Slate is dull while that of Shonkinite is subvitreous to dull. Slate is available in black, brown, buff, green, light to dark grey, purple, red, shades of blue colors whereas Shonkinite is available in brown, buff, cream, green, grey, pink, white colors. The commercial uses of Slate are blackboards, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, standard material for the bed of billiard table, standard material for the beds of pool and snooker table, tombstones, used in aquariums, writing slates and that of Shonkinite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.