化學組成, 鍵及結構：(礦物)

Chemical composition, bonding and structure: (Mineral)

原生物：(化石)

板岩是由低品位區域變質作用改變頁岩或泥岩而形成的細粒岩石，片理變質岩

Living Specimens: (Fossil)

Slate is a fine-grained, foliated metamorphic rock that is created by the alteration of shale or mudstone by low-grade regional metamorphism.

板岩能夠刮擦玻璃和鋼。 紅色板石是由赤鐵礦形成，綠板石是由泥石形成，藍灰板石是由絹雲母形成，黑色板石是由碳質材料形成和黃褐色褐鐵礦形成。 石板的分裂面可能有光澤或暗淡的光澤。交叉斷裂的板岩通常是暗的。 板岩是不透明的材料所以不透光。

Slate is hard enough to be able to scratch glass and steel. Red slate is caused by hematite, green by chlorite, blue-gray by sericite, black by carbonaceous materials and yellowish-brown by limonite. The cleavage surface of slate may have either a shiny or dull luster. Cross fractures are typically dull. Slate is an opaque material that does not transmit any light.

板岩歷史上曾用於瓦礫和鋪路磚。 板岩也有許多裝飾用途。 板岩石製作盤子，相框，杯墊，三腳架，珠子和珠寶。 板岩石也被用來製作噴泉。 板岩石的相對平坦和表面容易使用粉筆或木炭等材料書寫所以板岩石被用來製作教室的黑板。 另外，一些藝術家使用板岩石作為天然畫布

Slate has historically been used for shingles and paving tiles and serves many decorative purposes. The rock makes plates, picture frames, coasters, trivets, beads and jewelry. Slate is also used to make fountains. The relatively flat and great surface of slate makes it fairly easy to write on with materials like chalk or charcoal so it has been used to make chalkboards for classrooms. Also, Some artists use slate as a natural canvas.

大部分都在歐洲找到。大多板岩石沉積在西半球。 蘇格蘭和北威爾士一直在為屋頂提供板岩石。 美國在東部沿海有一些板岩石採石場。 巴西以其“生鏽的板岩石”而聞名。

Mostly are found in Europe. Some of the most well known deposits of slate are found in the Western Hemisphere. Scotland and northern Wales have been supplying slate for roofing. The United States has a few substantial slate quarries along its eastern seaboard. Brazil is famous for its “rusty slate”.