what type of rock is shale

Shale is a sedimentary rock, specifically a fine‑grained clastic sedimentary rock.

Rock type

• Shale is classified as a clastic sedimentary rock, meaning it forms from compacted and cemented particles of pre‑existing rocks.

• It is the most common sedimentary rock on Earth, making up a large share of exposed sedimentary layers.

Key characteristics

• Very fine‑grained texture made mainly of clay and silt‑sized particles, often less than 0.0625 mm.

• Tends to split into thin, flat layers (a property called fissility), which is one of its defining features.

What it’s made of

• Dominantly clay minerals (like kaolinite and illite), plus quartz and sometimes calcite and organic matter.

• Colors range from gray to black, red, green, or yellow depending on iron content and organic material.

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