sedimentary
Fossiliferous Shale
Laminated Mudrock with plant fossils
Hardness: 2.5-3; Color: Tan, brown, and grey; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Structure: Clastic, fine-grained, showing fissility (splittable layers); Cleavage: Basal-like cleavage along bedding planes.
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Tan, brown, and grey
- Luster
- Dull/Earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.5-3; Color: Tan, brown, and grey; Luster: Dull/Earthy; Structure: Clastic, fine-grained, showing fissility (splittable layers); Cleavage: Basal-like cleavage along bedding planes.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the compaction of silt and clay-sized mineral particles in low-energy depositional environments such as lake beds, river floodplains, or lagoons. This specimen contains carbonaceous plant remains, suggesting a terrestrial or near-shore paleoenvironment.
Uses & applications
Used in the manufacture of cement, brick, and tile. Fossil-bearing shale is highly valued for education, research, and amateur paleontological collecting.
Geological facts
Shale is the most common sedimentary rock on Earth. This specific piece shows a dark carbonized compression fossil, likely a leaf or stem fragment, preserved through the exclusion of oxygen during burial.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to split into thin sheets and the presence of organic impressions. Commonly found in areas with past deltaic or lacustrine activity. When searching, look for 'platy' rocks that break easily to reveal surfaces.
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