Home
Compare Rocks


Slate and Slate


Slate and Slate


Definition

Definition
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism  
Slate is a fine-grained, foliated, homogeneous metamorphic rock derived from an original shale-type sedimentary rock composed of clay or volcanic ash through low-grade regional metamorphism  

History
  
  

Origin
England  
England  

Discoverer
Unknown  
Unknown  

Etymology
From Old French esclate, from esclat (French éclat)  
From Old French esclate, from esclat (French éclat)  

Class
Metamorphic Rocks  
Metamorphic Rocks  

Sub-Class
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock  
Durable Rock, Medium Hardness Rock  

Family
  
  

Group
Not Applicable  
Not Applicable  

Other Categories
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  
Fine Grained Rock, Opaque Rock  

Texture

Texture
Foliated  
Foliated  

Color
Black, Brown, Buff, Green, Light to Dark Grey, Purple, Red, Shades of Blue  
Black, Brown, Buff, Green, Light to Dark Grey, Purple, Red, Shades of Blue  

Maintenance
Less  
Less  

Durability
Durable  
Durable  

Water Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Scratch Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Stain Resistant
Yes  
Yes  

Wind Resistant
No  
No  

Acid Resistant
No  
No  

Appearance
Dull  
Dull  

Uses

Architecture
  
  

Interior Uses
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads  
Bathrooms, Decorative Aggregates, Entryways, Floor Tiles, Flooring, Homes, Hotels, Interior Decoration, Kitchens, Stair Treads  

Exterior Uses
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone  
As Building Stone, As Facing Stone, Garden Decoration, Paving Stone  

Other Architectural Uses
Curbing  
Curbing  

Industry
  
  

Construction Industry
As Dimension Stone  
As Dimension Stone  

Medical Industry
Not Available  
Not Available  

Antiquity Uses
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines  
Artifacts, Monuments, Sculpture, Small Figurines  

Other Uses
  
  

Commercial Uses
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  
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  

Types

Types
Not Available  
Not Available  

Features
Easily splits into thin plates, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock  
Easily splits into thin plates, Surfaces are often shiny, Very fine grained rock  

Archaeological Significance
  
  

Monuments
Used  
Used  

Famous Monuments
Not Available  
Not Available  

Sculpture
Used  
Used  

Famous Sculptures
Not Available  
Not Available  

Pictographs
Used  
Used  

Petroglyphs
Used  
Used  

Figurines
Used  
Used  

Fossils
Absent  
Absent  

Formation

Formation
Slate is a low grade metamorphic rock that is generally formed by metamorphosis of mudstone or shale, under relatively low pressure and temperature conditions.  
Slate is a low grade metamorphic rock that is generally formed by metamorphosis of mudstone or shale, under relatively low pressure and temperature conditions.  

Composition
  
  

Mineral Content
Apatite, Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Graphite, Hematite, Kaolinite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Tourmaline, Zircon  
Apatite, Biotite, Chlorite, Feldspar, Graphite, Hematite, Kaolinite, Magnetite, Pyrite, Tourmaline, Zircon  

Compound Content
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide  
Aluminium Oxide, CaO, Iron(III) Oxide, Potassium Oxide, MgO, Sodium Oxide, Silicon Dioxide, Titanium Dioxide  

Transformation
  
  

Metamorphism
Yes  
Yes  

Types of Metamorphism
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism  
Burial Metamorphism, Cataclastic Metamorphism, Regional Metamorphism  

Weathering
Yes  
Yes  

Types of Weathering
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering  
Biological Weathering, Chemical Weathering, Mechanical Weathering  

Erosion
Yes  
Yes  

Types of Erosion
Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion  
Coastal Erosion, Glacier Erosion, Water Erosion, Wind Erosion  

Properties

Physical Properties
  
  

Hardness
3-4  
3-4  

Grain Size
Very fine-grained  
Very fine-grained  

Fracture
Splintery  
Splintery  

Streak
Light to dark brown  
Light to dark brown  

Porosity
Less Porous  
Less Porous  

Luster
Dull  
Dull  

Compressive Strength
30.00 N/mm2  
30
30.00 N/mm2  
30

Cleavage
Slaty  
Slaty  

Toughness
1.2  
1.2  

Specific Gravity
2.65-2.8  
2.65-2.8  

Transparency
Opaque  
Opaque  

Density
2.6-2.8 g/cm3  
2.6-2.8 g/cm3  

Thermal Properties
  
  

Specific Heat Capacity
0.76 kJ/Kg K  
17
0.76 kJ/Kg K  
17

Resistance
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant  
Heat Resistant, Impact Resistant, Pressure Resistant, Wear Resistant  

Reserves

Deposits in Eastern Continents
  
  

Asia
China, India, Turkey  
China, India, Turkey  

Africa
Not Available  
Not Available  

Europe
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom  
Belgium, France, Germany, Italy, Norway, Portugal, Spain, United Kingdom  

Others
Arctic  
Arctic  

Deposits in Western Continents
  
  

North America
USA  
USA  

South America
Brazil  
Brazil  

Deposits in Oceania Continent
  
  

Australia
Not Available  
Not Available  

Summary >>
<< Reserves

All about Slate and Slate Properties

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

Compare Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

Metamorphic Rocks

» More Metamorphic Rocks

Compare Metamorphic Rocks

» More Compare Metamorphic Rocks