Slate Rock Essay

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Throughout the years Slate has been used for indoor as well as outdoor. Since the ancient Maya civilization to modern age Slate is used for artifacts, walls, roofing, and flooring. Slate is a metamorphic rock; it is formed when shale, which consists of clay minerals, is put under increasing levels of heat and pressure. The clay then reverts to mica minerals from which it is formed. This makes the rock grow hard, and get a pronounced cleavage direction, so that it breaks along flat planes. The foliation property of Slate is caused by the parallel orientation of platy minerals in the rock such as microscopic grains of clay minerals and mica. This beautiful rock comes in a variation of colors often determined by the amount and type of iron and organic material that are present in the rock. Most slates are gray in color and range from light to dark gray, it also occurs in shades of green, red, black, purple, and brown. The variety of Slate colors and its ruff texture makes it an ideal material for interior decoration. It is often used to cover a wall in a room to create a focal point, or for flooring which gives the feeling of nature and age. Slate is also used in many modern decorative pieces such as this simple but elegant small stainless steel coffee table fireplace with a gray slate base; designed by the designer Wahrmann Gido (fig.1). Another idea of modern designs is the Slate Slab Waterfall (fig.2). The color variation and patterns on the slate slab together with the light and water, plays a vital role in the appearance of the slate slab fountain. Slate's qualities makes it a good choice for roofing because it can be cut into thin sheets, absorbs minimal moisture and stands up well in contact with freezing water. It is also used for interior flooring, exterior paving, and garden decor because it is more durable than synthetic materials. When installing

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