Definition
A sedimentary rock, deposit of a submarine turbidity currents and are composed of layered particles
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
Origin
European Foreland Basins
Unknown
Discoverer
Arnold H. Bouma
Unknown
Etymology
From Medieval Latin turbiditas, from Latin turbidus (turbid). Turbidity current is from 1939
From Latin Argilla (clay) and -ite in English which became agrilla+ -ite = Argillite
Class
Sedimentary Rocks
Sedimentary Rocks
Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Durable Rock, Soft Rock
Group
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Other Categories
Coarse Grained Rock, Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock
Texture
Mud-rich, Sandy
Clastic, Polished
Color
Black, Brown, Colourless, Green, Grey, Pink
Dark Grey to Black, Pink, Red, White
Durability
Durable
Durable
Scratch Resistant
Yes
Yes
Appearance
Dull and Banded
Rough and Dull
Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative Aggregates, Flooring, Homes, Interior Decoration
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration
Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Paving Stone, Garden Decoration
As Building Stone, Garden Decoration, Office Buildings
Other Architectural Uses
Curbing
Curbing, Whetstones
Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement
Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills.
Medical Industry
Not Yet Used
Not Yet Used
Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture
Commercial Uses
Cemetery Markers, Creating Artwork
Fire resistant, Used to manufracture paperweights and bookends
Types
Not Available
Not Available
Features
High silica content, Host Rock for Lead
Is one of the oldest rock
Archaeological Significance
Famous Monuments
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Famous Sculptures
Data Not Available
Data Not Available
Formation
Turbidite is a type of sedimentary rock formed when a river carries or transports pieces of broken rock as it flows. These particles then settle down and are subjected to high temperature and pressures hence forming Turbidite.
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.
Mineral Content
Coesite, Quartz, Sand
Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz
Compound Content
CaO, Carbon Dioxide, MgO
Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Silicon Dioxide
Types of Metamorphism
Not Applicable
Not Applicable
Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering
Biological Weathering
Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Sea Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion
Chemical Erosion
Grain Size
Fine to Coarse Grained
Fine Grained
Fracture
Splintery
Conchoidal to Uneven
Streak
White, Greenish White or Grey
White to Grey
Porosity
Very Less Porous
Highly Porous
Luster
Metallic
Waxy and Dull
Compressive Strength
Not Available
Cleavage
Disjunctive
Slaty
Specific Gravity
2.46-2.73
2.56-2.68
Transparency
Opaque
Opaque
Density
1.6-2.5 g/cm3
2.54-2.66 g/cm3
Resistance
Heat Resistant
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant
Deposits in Eastern Continents
Asia
Not Yet Found
Bangladesh, China, India, Russia
Africa
Western Africa
Ethiopia, Kenya, Morocco, South Africa, Tanzania
Europe
Austria, Belarus, Romania, Switzerland, United Kingdom
Austria, France, Germany, Greece, Italy, Romania, Scotland, Spain, Switzerland
Others
Not Yet Found
Not Yet Found
Deposits in Western Continents
North America
Canada, USA
USA
South America
Brazil, Colombia
Bolivia, Chile, Colombia, Ecuador, Peru, Venezuela
Deposits in Oceania Continent
Australia
New Zealand, Western Australia
New South Wales, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Western Australia
Turbidite vs Argillite Characteristics
Though some rocks look identical, they have certain characteristics which distinguish them from others. Characteristics of rocks include texture, appearance, color, fracture, streak, hardness etc. Turbidite vs Argillite characteristics assist us to distinguish and recognize rocks. Also you can check about Properties of Turbidite and Properties of Argillite. Learn more about Turbidite vs Argillite in the next section. The interior uses of Turbidite include Bathrooms, Countertops, Decorative aggregates, Flooring, Homes and Interior decoration whereas the interior uses of Argillite include Decorative aggregates, Homes and Interior decoration. Due to some exceptional properties of Turbidite and Argillite, they have various applications in construction industry. The uses of Turbidite in construction industry include As dimension stone, Cement manufacture, Construction aggregate, For road aggregate, Making natural cement and that of Argillite include Used for flooring, stair treads, borders and window sills..
More about Turbidite and Argillite
Here you can know more about Turbidite and Argillite. The life cycle of a rock consists of formation of rock, composition of rock and transformation of rock. The composition of Turbidite and Argillite consists of mineral content and compound content. The mineral content of Turbidite includes Coesite, Quartz, Sand and mineral content of Argillite includes Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Micas, Muscovite or Illite, Plagioclase, Pyrite, Quartz. You can also check out the list of all Sedimentary Rocks. When we have to compare Turbidite vs Argillite, the texture, color and appearance plays an important role in determining the type of rock. Turbidite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, pink colors whereas, Argillite is available in dark grey to black, pink, red, white colors. Appearance of Turbidite is Dull and Banded and that of Argillite is Rough and Dull. Properties of rock is another aspect for Turbidite vs Argillite. The hardness of Turbidite is 3 and that of Argillite is 2-3. The types of Turbidite are Not Available whereas types of Argillite are Not Available. Streak of rock is the color of powder produced when it is dragged across an unweathered surface. The streak of Turbidite is white, greenish white or grey while that of Argillite is white to grey. The specific heat capacity of Turbidite is 0.92 kJ/Kg K and that of Argillite is 0.87 kJ/Kg K. Depending on the properties like hardness, toughness, specific heat capacity, porosity etc., rocks are resistant to heat, wear, impact, etc.Turbidite is heat resistant whereas Argillite is heat resistant, impact resistant.