Know all about Slate and Laterite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Slate belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Laterite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Slate is Foliated whereas that of Laterite is Earthy, Massive, Porphyritic. Slate appears Dull and Laterite appears Rough and Banded. The luster of Slate and Laterite is dull. Slate and Laterite are available in black, brown, buff, green, light to dark grey, purple, red, shades of blue 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 Laterite are an oil and gas reservoir, source of bauxite, used in aquariums.