Know all about Slate and Variolite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Slate belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Variolite belongs to Igneous Rocks.Texture of Slate is Foliated whereas that of Variolite is Glassy, Massive, Porphyritic, Scoriaceous, Vesicular. Slate appears Dull and Variolite appears Dull and Soft. The luster of Slate is dull while that of Variolite is not available. Slate and Variolite 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 Variolite are cemetery markers, creating artwork.