Tonalite and Argillite

Tonalite

Argillite

Definition

Tonalite is a coarse-grained plutonic rock consisting mainly of sodic plagioclase, quartz, and hornblende or other mafic minerals with phaneritic texture

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

Tonale, Italy

Unknown

Discoverer

Unknown

Etymology

From Tonale Pass, northern Italy, + -ite1

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

Class

Igneous Rocks

Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class

Durable Rock, Hard 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

Phaneritic

Clastic, Polished

Color

Black, Brown, Light to Dark Grey, White

Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White

Maintenance

Less

Durability

Durable

Water Resistant

Yes

Scratch Resistant

Yes

Stain Resistant

Yes

Wind Resistant

Yes

Acid Resistant

Yes

Appearance

Banded and Foilated

Rough and Dull

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses

Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration

Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

Exterior Uses

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

As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings

Other Architectural Uses

Curbing

Curbing, Whetstones

Industry

Construction Industry

As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Cobblestones, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate

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

Medical Industry

Not Yet Used

Antiquity Uses

Artifacts, Sculpture

Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture

Other Uses

Commercial Uses

Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork

Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends

Types

Dacite

Not Available

Features

Is one of the oldest rock, Typically speckled black and white.

Is one of the oldest rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments

Not Yet Used

Used

Famous Monuments

Not Applicable

Data Not Available

Sculpture

Used

Famous Sculptures

Data Not Available

Pictographs

Not Used

Used

Petroglyphs

Not Used

Used

Figurines

Used

Fossils

Absent

Present

Formation

When alkali feldspar is extracted from granite, it changes to granitoid and later, it becomes tonalite with quartz as major mineral.

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

Albite, Amphibole, Apatite, Biotite, Feldspar, Hornblade, Ilmenite, Magnetite, Manganese Oxides, Olivine, Plagioclase, Pyroxene, Quartz, Sulfides, Titanite, Zircon

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

Compound Content

NaCl, CaO, MgO, Silicon Dioxide

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

Transformation

Metamorphism

Yes

Types of Metamorphism

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

Not Applicable

Weathering

Yes

Types of Weathering

Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering

Biological Weathering

Erosion

Yes

Types of Erosion

Wind Erosion

Chemical Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness

6-7

2-3

Grain Size

Medium to Fine Coarse Grained

Fine Grained

Fracture

Conchoidal

Conchoidal to Uneven

Streak

Bluish Black

White to Grey

Porosity

Very Less Porous

Highly Porous

Luster

Subvitreous to Dull

Waxy and Dull

Cleavage

Not Available

Slaty

Toughness

2.1

2.6

Specific Gravity

2.86-3

2.56-2.68

Transparency

Opaque

Density

2.73 g/cm³

2.54-2.66 g/cm³

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity

0.92 kJ/Kg K

0.87 kJ/Kg K

Resistance

Heat Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Water Resistant

Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia

Not Yet Found

Bangladesh, China, India, Russia

Africa

Egypt

Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania

Europe

Finland, Germany, Italy, Romania, Sweden, Turkey

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

Others

Not Yet Found

Deposits in Western Continents

North America

USA

South America

Argentina, Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru

Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia

New Zealand, South Australia, Western Australia

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

Summary >>

<< Reserves

All about Tonalite and Argillite Properties

Know all about Tonalite and Argillite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Tonalite belongs to Igneous Rocks while Argillite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Tonalite is Phaneritic whereas that of Argillite is Clastic, Polished. Tonalite appears Banded and Foilated and Argillite appears Rough and Dull. The luster of Tonalite is subvitreous to dull while that of Argillite is waxy and dull. Tonalite is available in black, brown, light to dark grey, white colors whereas Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Tonalite are cemetery markers, creating artwork and that of Argillite are fire resistant, used to manufracture paperweights and bookends.