Shale is a fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock formed from mud that is a mix of flakes of clay minerals (hydrous aluminium phyllosilicates, e.g., kaolin, Al 2 Si 2 O 5 4) and tiny fragments (silt-sized particles) of other minerals, especially quartz and calcite. [1]

Shale: Shale breaks into thin pieces with sharp edges. It occurs in a wide range of colors that include red, brown, green, gray, and black. It is the most common sedimentary rock and is found in sedimentary basins worldwide. What is Shale?

Aug 21, 2023 · Shale is a fine-grained rock made of compressed mud and clay. The defining characteristic of the shales is its fragility. In other words, shale is easily divided into thin layers. Black and gray shales are common, but the rock can …

Shale, any of a group of fine-grained, laminated sedimentary rocks consisting of silt- and clay-sized particles. Shale is the most abundant of the sedimentary rocks, accounting for roughly 70 percent of this rock type in the crust of the Earth.

Aug 2, 2020 · Shale is the most common sedimentary rock, accounting for about 70 percent of the rock in the Earth's crust. Shale is a fine-grained rock made from compacted mud and clay. The defining characteristic of shale is its ability to break into layers or fissility.

Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed primarily of clay minerals and other clay-sized particles of minerals like quartz and calcite. It is laminated and fissile, easily breaking along bedding planes.

Jan 8, 2024 · Shale is a fine-grained sedimentary rock, composed mostly of clay particles and other minerals such as quartz and calcite. It is formed of many thim mineral layers and is typically...

Shale is a fine-grained clastic sedimentary rock characterized by its fissility, shale readily cleaves into thin, typically less than 1 centimeter thick, laminae. Shale primarily composed of clay minerals, along with minor constituents like quartz and calcite.

Discover the versatility of shale, a common sedimentary rock crucial to industries like energy, construction, and ceramics. Learn about its formation, types, properties, famous formations, and uses in our comprehensive guide.

Jan 5, 2023 · Shale is the most abundant of all sedimentary rocks. It is composed primarily of soft clay minerals, but may include variable amounts of organic matter, calcareous material, and quartz grains. Shale may be any color, but is generally greenish gray to grayish black.