Taconite

Argillite

Taconite and Argillite

Taconite

Argillite

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Definition

Taconite is a low-grade iron ore which belongs to sedimentary rock and containing about 27% iron and 51% silica

Argillites are highly compact sedimentary or slightly metamorphosed rocks that consist largely or wholly of particles of clay or silt but lack the fissility of shale or the cleavage characteristic of slate

History

Origin

Western Australia, Minnesota

Discoverer

Newton Horace Winchell

Unknown

Etymology

From the name of Taconic Mountains in New England

From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite

Class

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock

Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group

Other Categories

Coarse Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Banded, Trellis

Clastic, Polished

Color

Red, Reddish Brown

Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

✔ ✘

Scratch Resistant

✔ ✘

Stain Resistant

✔ ✘

Wind Resistant

✔ ✘

Acid Resistant

✔ ✘

Appearance

Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny

Rough and Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Curbing, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

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

Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.

Medical Industry

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

As a touchstone, Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends

Types

Iron formation

Metamorphic rock

Features

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Famous Monuments

Sculpture

Famous Sculptures

Pictographs

Petroglyphs

Figurines

Fossils

Present

Formation

Taconite is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock as it flows. When the river reaches a lake or sea, its load of transported rocks settles or deposits at the bottom of sea or lake.

An argillite is a fine-grained sedimentary rock mainly composed of clay particles which forms from lithified muds which contain variable amounts of silt-sized particles.

Composition

Mineral Content

Hematite, Magnetite, Quartz

Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz

Compound Content

Fe, Iron(III) Oxide, Silicon Dioxide

Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

Transformation

Metamorphism

✔ ✘

Types of Metamorphism

Weathering

✔ ✘

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering

Erosion

✔ ✘

Types of Erosion

Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

5.5-62-3

1 7

👆🏻

Grain Size

Large and Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Uneven, Splintery or Conchoidal

Conchoidal to Uneven

Streak

White

White to Grey

Porosity

Highly Porous

Luster

Earthy

Waxy and Dull

Compressive Strength

190.00 N/mm²-

0.15 450

👆🏻

Cleavage

Slaty

Toughness

1.5

2.6

Specific Gravity

5-5.32.56-2.68

0 8.4

👆🏻

Transparency

Translucent to Opaque

Opaque

Density

-9999 g/cm³2.54-2.66 g/cm³

0 1400

👆🏻

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

3.20 kJ/Kg K0.87 kJ/Kg K

0.14 3.2

👆🏻

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

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

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

Africa

Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

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

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

Others

Greenland, Mid-Atlantic Ridge

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

Canada, Mexico, USA

USA

South America

Bolivia, Brazil

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New South Wales, Queensland, South Australia, Western Australia

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

All about Taconite and Argillite Properties

Know all about Taconite and Argillite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Taconite and Argillite belong to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Taconite is Banded, Trellis whereas that of Argillite is Clastic, Polished. Taconite appears Layered, Banded, Veined and Shiny and Argillite appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Taconite is earthy while that of Argillite is waxy and dull. Taconite is available in red, reddish brown colors whereas Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Taconite are as a touchstone, cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Argillite are fire resistant, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends.