Know all about Slate and Tephrite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Slate belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Tephrite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Slate is Foliated whereas that of Tephrite is Aphanitic to Porphyritic. Slate appears Dull and Tephrite appears Vesicular. The luster of Slate is dull while that of Tephrite is subvitreous to dull. Slate is available in black, brown, buff, green, light to dark grey, purple, red, shades of blue colors whereas Tephrite is available in black, brown, colourless, green, grey, 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 Tephrite are production of lime, soil conditioner.