There are quite a few different kinds of rocks on earth. All of them are actively used by man in industry. Clay slates are considered one of these rocks. This article will talk in detail about them, namely, what properties they have, what is their mineral composition and structure. In addition, we will understand what slates are in general and how they are mined. And now about everything in order.
What are slates
So, before we talk about shale, we must say what kind of rock it is in general. In fact, shales are various kinds of rocks with a layered arrangement of intergrowths of minerals. It takes a lot of effort to extract it, but despite this, it occurs in many parts of our planet.
More details about the extraction of this material will be discussed later. In the meantime, it is worth talking about the composition of this rather interesting stone.
Shale: mineral composition
The mineral composition of shale is quite diverse. As the name implies, the stone is mainly composed of minerals. These include sericite, epidote, albite, quartz, etc. In a word, most breeds that belong to low-temperature or medium-temperaturematerials.
One more thing worth mentioning. Clay shales are divided into several groups according to their mineral composition. After all, they contain other substances. It was they who became the reason for the division of slates into several types:
- Alum slate. This type of rock includes those whose composition includes carbonaceous matter and sulfur pyrite.
- Roofing slate.
- Slate slate.
- Grinding slate. This type includes those shales, which include silica.
- And the last kind - slate. It can be easily split into small columns.
That, in fact, is all that can be said about the mineral composition of this rock and its varieties.
Physical properties of shale
This breed has a large palette of colors. Basically it is yellow, red, gray, burgundy. Most often in industry, a gray stone is used. This material has good sound insulation, strength, and frost resistance. Slate does not lose its color until the end of its service life. Corrosion to this material is absolutely not terrible.
Use of the breed in question
This type of breed has been known since time immemorial. All over the world you can find buildings whose roofs are covered with roofing material just from it.
Where is shale used today? The use of this fossil is quite large, but mainly it serves to create roofing, facing and slate material.
The stone is very popular for several reasons. First of all, because clay shales do not contain absolutely no harmful chemical impurities. And in our time, when almost every building material contains substances hazardous to our he alth, this method of finishing is simply worth its weight in gold. In addition, this stone is quite strong and reliable. The service life of such a building material is more than a dozen years.
Quite often, bathrooms are finished with shale. This is due to the fact that the rock perfectly absorbs all the moisture and at the same time it does not affect the service life. What material can be compared with this type of rock? Essentially none. The density of shale, its long service life and versatility make this material indispensable.
How this breed is mined
Mineral mining is carried out in almost every corner of the Earth: Spain, Brazil, the United States of America. Russia also does not lag behind its competitors. Basically, mining is carried out in Siberia, as well as in the Urals, in the Kostroma and Kirov regions.
Unfortunately, at the moment, shale produced in Russia is not very popular, as a result of which it is bought abroad. So what is the reason for such unpopularity of the material? There are two reasons:
- The underdevelopment of the roofing slate market in Russia. That is why the extraction of this breed is far from a profitable business.
- Poor quality.
The material is mined in open pits. The rock layer is chipped off and further split into smaller pieces. Bulldozers and excavators are mainly used for mining.
Healing properties
The considered stone has miraculous healing properties. According to experts, shale has a positive effect on absolutely the entire human nervous system. Great for stress relief. That is why quite often this magnificent stone can be found in the interior of bedrooms or living rooms.
Another way to use shale for medicinal purposes is to purify water. The studied rock perfectly filters water from impurities of chlorine and heavy metals.
In addition, the stone is used in application procedures.
Mystical features of the material
Now you can turn to the magical properties of this material. Magicians are sure that with the help of this stone you can get rid of mental pain as soon as possible, which is associated, for example, with a break in relations with a loved one.
Also, a stone can serve as an excellent amulet. Slate protects against negativity and other problems that people often face. Especially this decoration is suitable for people who are closely connected with creativity. This stone contributes to the development of talent in a person, helps to create new interesting and unusual things. You can buy it in absolutely any jewelry store. It is used in many decorations.
Astrologers assure thatslate suits almost all signs of the zodiac. The only exceptions are Capricorn and Aries. The stone is categorically contraindicated for them.
Result
In this article, it was described in some detail about such material as shale. Structure, composition and its application were the main theme. Perhaps, due to its uniqueness, shale will be very popular for more than a dozen years. As it turned out, the stone has healing and magical properties.
