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Physically, these are Metamorphic-Argillaceous rocks, which has developed a well-marked splittable cleavages with or without developed recrystallization & spots/knots of minerals like garnet, pyrite, andulasite, etc. They are normally fine to medium grained, moderately hard & compact, less homogeneous with varying textures & shades. It has an ability to split into thin layers along the plane of cleavages due to flattened & elongated minerals along the plane of cleavage. | Hardness: | 3.0 to 4.0 on Moh's scale | | Density: | 2.6 to 2.8 Kg/cm3 | | Modulus of Rupture: | 22 to 34 N/mm2 | | Compressive Strength: | 24 to 36 N/mm2 | | Specific Gravity: | 2.65 to 2.80 | | Porosity: | Low to very low | | Water Absorption: | 1.5 to 2% | | Weather Impact: | Resistant | | Corrodibility: | 0.4 to 0.7% | Chemically, they are Multi-Mineral, metamorphic argilaceous rocks made of an aggregate of minerals and colloidal substances. Essentially mineral composition includes quartz, mica, chlorite, sericite & oxides of iron with occasional spots/knots of minerals like garnet, pyrite, andulasite, etc. | SiO2: | 55-65% | | Iron (Fe2O3): | 4%-8% | | Alumina (Al2O3): | 15 to 20% | | Soda (Na2O) & Potash (K2O): | 2-4% | | Lime (CaO): | 0.5-1% | | Magnesia (MgO): | 0.5-3% | | TiO2: | 0.4-0.5% | | Loss On Ignition (LOI): | 3-4% | |