Definition
Syenite is a coarse-grained igneous rock which is composed mainly of alkali feldspar and various ferromagnesian minerals
  
Oil Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock from which oil is extracted
  
History
  
  
Discoverer
Unknown
  
Unknown
  
Etymology
From French syénite, from Latin Syenites (lapis ) (stone) of Syene
  
From Old English scealu in its base sense of thing that divides or separate
  
Class
Igneous Rocks
  
Sedimentary Rocks
  
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock
  
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
  
Family
  
  
Group
Plutonic
  
Not Applicable
  
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Medium Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
  
Texture
Earthy
  
Splintery
  
Color
Brown, Buff, Cream, Green, Grey, Pink, White
  
Black, Brown, Buff, Green, Grey, Red, Yellow
  
Maintenance
Less
  
Less
  
Durability
Durable
  
Durable
  
Water Resistant
Yes
  
Yes
  
Scratch Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Stain Resistant
No
  
Yes
  
Wind Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Acid Resistant
Yes
  
No
  
Appearance
Banded and Foilated
  
Muddy
  
Architecture
  
  
Interior Uses
Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration
  
Not Yet Used
  
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
  
Not Yet Used
  
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
  
Not Yet Used
  
Industry
  
  
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Landscaping, Making natural cement, Manufacture of Magnesium and Dolomite Refractories
  
Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Serves as an Oil and Gas Reservoir rock
  
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines
  
Artifacts
  
Other Uses
  
  
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
  
An Oil and Gas Reservoir
  
Types
Shonkinite
  
Carbonate-rich Shale, Siliceous Shale and Cannel Shale
  
Features
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Is one of the oldest rock, Matrix variable
  
Easily splits into thin plates, Generally rough to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Very fine grained rock
  
Archaeological Significance
  
  
Monuments
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Sculpture
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
  
Not Applicable
  
Pictographs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Petroglyphs
Used
  
Not Used
  
Figurines
Used
  
Not Yet Used
  
Fossils
Absent
  
Present
  
Formation
Syenites are formed due to alkaline igneous activities and are generally formed in thick continental crustal areas or in Cordilleran subduction zones.
  
Oil Shale forms on the beds of seas and lakes and its formation starts with the organic debris settling and accumulating at the bottom of a lake or sea which are then transformed into rock with the help of high temperature and pressure.
  
Composition
  
  
Mineral Content
Amphibole, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz
  
Albite, Biotite, Calcite, Chert, Chlorite, Dolomite, Hematite, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Pyrite, Quartz, Silica, Sulfides
  
Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, FeO, Potassium Oxide, MgO, MnO, Sodium Oxide, Phosphorus Pentoxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide
  
Ca, Fe, Mg, Silicon Dioxide, Sodium
  
Transformation
  
  
Metamorphism
Yes
  
No
  
Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Contact Metamorphism, Hydrothermal Metamorphism, Impact 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, Glacier Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
  
Chemical Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion
  
Physical Properties
  
  
Hardness
5.5-6
  
2-3
  
Grain Size
Medium to Fine Coarse Grained
  
Very fine-grained
  
Fracture
Not Available
  
Not Available
  
Streak
White
  
White
  
Porosity
Less Porous
  
Highly Porous
  
Luster
Subvitreous to Dull
  
Dull
  
Compressive Strength
150.00 N/mm
2
  
14
Not Available
  
Cleavage
Perfect
  
Slaty
  
Toughness
Not Available
  
2.6
  
Specific Gravity
2.6-2.7
  
2.2-2.8
  
Transparency
Opaque
  
Opaque
  
Density
2.6-2.8 g/cm3
  
2.4-2.8 g/cm3
  
Thermal Properties
  
  
Specific Heat Capacity
0.92 kJ/Kg K
  
10
0.39 kJ/Kg K
  
23
Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Wear Resistant
  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
  
Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  
Asia
China, India, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Sri Lanka, Taiwan, Thailand, Turkey, Vietnam
  
Bangladesh, China, India, Israel, Jordan, Russia, Syria, Thailand, Turkey
  
Africa
Angola, Egypt, Madagascar, Namibia, Nigeria, South Africa
  
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
  
Europe
Bulgaria, England, Germany, Norway, Romania, Switzerland
  
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland
  
Others
Not Yet Found
  
Greenland, Not Yet Found
  
Deposits in Western Continents
  
  
North America
USA
  
Canada, USA
  
South America
Brazil, Chile
  
Bolivia, Brazil, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
  
Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  
Australia
New Zealand, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia
  
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia