Slate and Mudstone Types and Facts
Types
Phyllite, Schist, and Slate
Marl, Shale and Argillite
Features
Easily splits into thin plates, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock
Available in Lots of Colors and Patterns, Smooth to touch, Very fine grained rock
Archaeological Significance
Types of Slate and Mudstone
Some rocks according to their use or texture are classified into different types. Know more about Slate Texture and Mudstone Texture. Types of Slate are Phyllite, Schist, and Slate whereas the types of Mudstone are Marl, Shale and Argillite.During historic times, some rocks depending on their hardness were used to create Pictographs and Petroglyphs. Rocks which are hard were generally not used. Pictographs are paintings or drawings that have been placed or created on the surface of rock. Slate and Mudstone were for creating pictographs. Petroglyph is an image which is carved into a rock. These are images created by removing part of a rock surface by incising, picking, carving or abrading, as a form of rock art. Slate and Mudstone were for creating petroglyphs.