Slate is the metamorphic product of shale. Slate is a fine-grained brittle rock which splits readily into thin smooth-faced layers or sheets. Slates are generally dark grey, green or black in colour, but may also be red or brown. Individual grains cannot be distinguished with the naked eye. The term argillite refers to rocks with characteristics intermediate between shale and slate; they are harder than shale but do not break into sheets like slate.

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