shale, sedimentary rock rock, aggregation of solid matter composed of one or more of the minerals forming the earth's crust. The scientific study of rocks is called petrology. Rocks are commonly divided, according to their origin, into three major classes—igneous, sedimentary, and
..... Click the link for more information. formed by the consolidation of mud or clay, having the property of splitting into thin layers parallel to its bedding planes. Shale tends to be fissile, i.e., it tends to split along planar surfaces between the layers of stratified rock. Shales comprise an estimated 55% of all sedimentary rocks. The composition of shale varies widely. Shales with very high silica content may have been formed when large quantities of diatoms diatom (dī`ətŏm', -tōm')
..... Click the link for more information. and volcanic ash were present in the original sediment. Large numbers of fossils fossil, remains or imprints of plants or animals preserved from prehistoric times by the operation of natural conditions. Fossils are found in sedimentary rock, asphalt deposits, and coal and sometimes in amber and certain other materials.
..... Click the link for more information. in shales may give them a high calcium content; such shales may grade into limestones limestone, sedimentary rock wholly or in large part composed of calcium carbonate. It is ordinarily white but may be colored by impurities, iron oxide making it brown, yellow, or red and carbon making it blue, black, or gray. The texture varies from coarse to fine.
..... Click the link for more information. . Shales that contain a large percentage of alumina alumina (əl
..... Click the link for more information. are used as a source of that mineral in the manufacture of cement cement, binding material used in construction and engineering, often called hydraulic cement, typically made by heating a mixture of limestone and clay until it almost fuses and then grinding it to a fine powder.
..... Click the link for more information. . Shales containing abundant carbonaceous matter grade into bituminous coal coal, fuel substance of plant origin, largely or almost entirely composed of carbon with varying amounts of mineral matter.

Types

There is a complete series of carbonaceous fuels, which differ from each other in the relative amounts of moisture,
..... Click the link for more information. . Oil shales are widely distributed in the W United States and may be a future source of petroleum.

shale

Any of a group of fine-grained, laminated sedimentary rocks consisting of silt- and clay-sized particles. Shale constitutes roughly 60% of the sedimentary rock in the Earth's crust. Shales are commercially important, particularly in the ceramics industry. They are a valuable raw material for tile, brick, and pottery and constitute a major source of alumina for portland cement. In addition, advances in recovery methods may one day make oil shale a practical source for liquid petroleum.

shale

a dark fine-grained laminated sedimentary rock formed by compression of successive layers of clay-rich sediment

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Types

shale

shale