Know all about Gneiss and Slate properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gneiss and Slate belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Gneiss is Banded, Foliated, Platy whereas that of Slate is Foliated. Gneiss appears Foliated and Slate appears Dull. The luster of Gneiss and Slate is dull. Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors whereas Slate is available in black, brown, buff, green, light to dark grey, purple, red, shades of blue colors. The commercial uses of Gneiss are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used in aquariums and that of Slate are blackboards, commemorative tablets, laboratory bench tops, standard material for the bed of billiard table, standard material for the beds of pool and snooker table, tombstones, used in aquariums, writing slates.