Shale
ExploreMineral
Shale
Shale is a type of rock that breaks easily into thin layers. It can be found in many colors like gray, black, and brown. People use shale to make bricks and tiles.
Appearance
The Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock, often appearing in shades of gray, black, or reddish-brown. It distinctively breaks into thin, parallel layers or flakes, making it look like stacked sheets of paper.
KingdomAnimalia
Category
MineralRarity
Common
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Snaps
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Interesting facts
Ancient artists sometimes used powdered shale to make pigments for their cave paintings!
Shale is the most common type of sedimentary rock found on Earth!
Some shale contains enough plant matter that it can actually burn like coal!
You can often find delicate fossil fern leaves beautifully pressed flat within shale layers!
Special abilities
Ability
Split Master
Shale has a layered structure called fissility, allowing it to easily split into thin, flat sheets, useful for flagstones.
Ability
Fossil Keeper
Shale's fine grains and quick deposition protect ancient organisms, preserving detailed fossils better than many other rocks.
Ability
Oil Locker
Some shales can hold tiny droplets of oil and gas within their fine pores, acting like natural underground storage tanks.
Measurements & details
- Color Range
- gray, black, green, red, brown
- Hardness
- 2.5
- Luster
- dull
- Specific Gravity
- 2.5
Traits
Sedimentary
Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediments, organic matter, or chemical precipitates.
Colorful
Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
Fossil
A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.
Natural
Natural refers to organisms, materials, or phenomena existing or produced by nature, not artificially created.
Also known as
No aliases listed yet.
Collections
Safety
Danger
1/5 · Very low
Shale is safe to touch but can be sharp if broken, so be careful when handling it.
Frequently Asked Questions
What colors can Shale be?
gray, black, green, red, brown
How hard is Shale?
2.5
What kind of luster does Shale have?
dull
What is Shale's specific gravity?
2.5
Snap Map
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Recent Snaps
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