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What is Chalk?



Definition

Definition
Chalk is a soft, white, powdery limestone consisting mainly of fossil shells of foraminifers

History

Origin
-

Discoverer
Unknown

Etymology
From old English cealc chalk, lime, plaster; pebble, from Greek khalix small pebble, in English transferred to the opaque, white, soft limestone

Class
Sedimentary Rocks

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Soft Rock

Family

Group
-

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock

Texture

Texture
Clastic or Non-Clastic

Color
Grey, White, Yellow

Maintenance
Less

Durability
Durable

Water Resistant
No

Scratch Resistant
No

Stain Resistant
No

Wind Resistant
No

Acid Resistant
No

Appearance
Soft

Uses

Architecture

Interior Uses
Decorative Aggregates, Homes, Interior Decoration

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

Other Architectural Uses
Powder

Industry

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone, Cement Manufacture, Construction Aggregate, for Road Aggregate, Making natural cement, raw material for manufacture of quicklime and slaked lime, Source of calcium

Medical Industry
-

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines

Other Uses

Commercial Uses
Alumina Refineries, Creating Artwork, Drawing on blackboards, Gymnasts, athletes and mountain climbers use for grip, In aquifers, Paper Industry, Production of Lime, Raw material for manufacture of quicklime, slaked lime, Soil Conditioner, Whiting, Whiting material in toothpaste, paint and paper

Types

Types
Chalk Marl and Marl

Features
Clasts are smooth to touch, Is one of the oldest rock, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock

Archaeological Significance

Monuments
-

Famous Monuments
-

Sculpture
-

Famous Sculptures
-

Pictographs
-

Petroglyphs
-

Figurines
-

Fossils
Present

Formation

Formation
Chalk is formed from lime mud, which accumulates on the sea floor which is then transformed into rock by geological processes.

Composition

Mineral Content
Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand

Compound Content
Ca, NaCl, CaO

Transformation

Metamorphism
No

Types of Metamorphism
-

Weathering
Yes

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering

Erosion
Yes

Types of Erosion
Chemical Erosion, Coastal Erosion, Water Erosion

Properties

Physical Properties

Hardness
1

Grain Size
Very fine-grained

Fracture
-

Streak
White

Porosity
Highly Porous

Luster
Dull

Compressive Strength
5.00 N/mm2 47

Cleavage
-

Toughness
1

Specific Gravity
2.3-2.4

Transparency
Opaque

Density
2.49-2.50 g/cm3

Thermal Properties

Specific Heat Capacity
0.90 kJ/Kg K 12

Resistance
Heat Resistant

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents

Asia
Brunei, India, Indonesia, Malaysia, Singapore, Thailand, Vietnam

Africa
Cameroon, Chad, Ghana, Kenya, Malawi, Sudan, Tanzania, Togo, Zambia, Zimbabwe

Europe
England, France, Germany, Spain, United Kingdom

Others
-

Deposits in Western Continents

North America
Canada, USA

South America
Colombia

Deposits in Oceania Continent

Australia
Adelaide, New Zealand, Queensland, Victoria, Yorke Peninsula

Summary >>
<< Reserves

Sedimentary Rocks

Learn more about Properties of Chalk

What is Chalk? In this section, we will learn more about properties of Chalk i.e. physical and thermal properties. Physical properties of Chalk include Color, Streak, Hardness, Structure, Cleavage, Fracture, Luster, Specific Gravity etc. The strength of Chalk is 5.00 N/mm2. Streak of Chalk is white while its cleavage is . Luster of Chalk is dull and its fracture is . Chalk is opaque in nature. Know all about Chalk, What is Chalk, its composition, features, facts and reserves in next sections.

Know about Composition of Chalk

What is Chalk composed of? Get to know about composition of Chalk here. Chalk definition gives information about the Formation of Chalk and its composition.The composition of Chalk can be further divided into mineral and compound content. The mineral content of Chalk rock includes Calcite, Clay, Clay Minerals, Quartz, Sand and The compound content of Chalk rock includes Ca, NaCl, CaO. Almost all rocks undergo transformation process. Know all about Chalk rock in next section.

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