Know all about Slate and Gneiss properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Slate and Gneiss belong to Metamorphic Rocks.Texture of Slate is Foliated whereas that of Gneiss is Banded, Foliated, Platy. Slate appears Dull and Gneiss appears Foliated. The luster of Slate and Gneiss is dull. Slate is available in black, brown, buff, green, light to dark grey, purple, red, shades of blue colors whereas Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors. The commercial uses 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 and that of Gneiss are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used in aquariums.