# 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.

- **Category:** [Mineral](https://www.snappit.app/explore/categories/mineral)
- **Rarity:** Common
- **Danger:** 1/5 · Very low

![Shale](https://commons.wikimedia.org/w/index.php?title=Special:Redirect/file/ShaleUSGOV.jpg&width=800)

Photo: Public domain · [Wikimedia Commons](https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:ShaleUSGOV.jpg)

## 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.

## Taxonomy

- **Kingdom:** Animalia

## 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

- **Split Master:** Shale has a layered structure called fissility, allowing it to easily split into thin, flat sheets, useful for flagstones.
- **Fossil Keeper:** Shale's fine grains and quick deposition protect ancient organisms, preserving detailed fossils better than many other rocks.
- **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](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/sedimentary): Sedimentary rocks are formed from the accumulation and compaction of sediments, organic matter, or chemical precipitates.
- [Colorful](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/colorful): Colorful describes organisms or objects displaying a wide range of bright and distinct colors.
- [Fossil](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/fossil): A fossil is the preserved remains or traces of an ancient organism embedded in rock or other geological deposits.
- [Natural](https://www.snappit.app/explore/traits/natural): Natural refers to organisms, materials, or phenomena existing or produced by nature, not artificially created.

## Collections

- [Minerals](https://www.snappit.app/explore/collections/minerals)

## 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

### How to identify Shale?

Compare crystal habit, luster, transparency, cleavage and surface texture. Minerals with different compositions can share almost the same color. Mineral Identifier: upload a photo and compare the visible details.

### 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

## More Mineral

- [Quartz Crystal](https://www.snappit.app/explore/quartz-crystal)
- [Amethyst](https://www.snappit.app/explore/amethyst)
- [Rose Quartz](https://www.snappit.app/explore/rose-quartz)
- [Citrine](https://www.snappit.app/explore/citrine)

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Source: [Shale: Characteristics, Facts & Places to See — Snappit](https://www.snappit.app/explore/shale)