A fine-grained metamorphic rock formed from shale. Its perfect cleavage allows it to be split into thin, flat sheets, making it ideal for roofing tiles and flooring. Texture: Slaty cleavage. Rock type: Metamorphic Foliated. Grain size: Very fine. Minerals present: Mica, Quartz, Chlorite. Formation: Forms from low-grade regional metamorphism of shale, where clay minerals recrystallize into microscopic mica flakes aligned perpendicular to pressure. Common geological settings: Found in metamorphic terranes derived from fine-grained sedimentary basins. Major deposits in Wales, Spain, and Pennsylvania. Common look-alikes and related entries: Shale, Phyllite, Schist.
Foliated rocks — Place this specimen in a broader field-identification workflow.
Shale vs Slate — Compare observable properties and safer field tests.
Slate vs Phyllite — Compare observable properties and safer field tests.
Sources, scope & corrections
These authoritative resources support category-level nomenclature, terminology, identification methods, and safety. When a specimen-specific safety warning appears, the public-health source listed here directly supports that precaution. They are not line-by-line citations for every other property on this entry, and natural specimens vary.
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GeoMiner
Last updated
2026-03-30T14:39:20.316237+00:00
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Published; not independently peer-reviewed
Rocks — U.S. National Park Service. Authoritative overview of rock groups, the rock cycle, and geologic processes.
A fine-grained metamorphic rock formed from shale. Its perfect cleavage allows it to be split into thin, flat sheets, making it ideal for roofing tiles and flooring.
How can you identify Slate?
Compare several properties rather than relying on colour alone. This entry records rock type: Metamorphic Foliated; texture: Slaty cleavage; grain size: Very fine; common minerals: Mica, Quartz, Chlorite. Confirm an important identification with additional field tests or qualified laboratory work.
How does Slate form?
Forms from low-grade regional metamorphism of shale, where clay minerals recrystallize into microscopic mica flakes aligned perpendicular to pressure.
Where is Slate commonly found?
Found in metamorphic terranes derived from fine-grained sedimentary basins. Major deposits in Wales, Spain, and Pennsylvania.
What is Slate commonly confused with?
Slate may be confused with Shale, Phyllite, Schist. Compare multiple diagnostic properties because colour and surface appearance can overlap.
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