Shale is the most common sedimentary rock. [2] The term shale is sometimes applied more broadly, as essentially a synonym for mudrock, rather than in the narrower sense of clay-rich fissile mudrock. [3] …

shale, any of a group of fine-grained, laminated sedimentary rocks consisting of silt- and clay-sized particles. Shale is the most abundant of the sedimentary rocks, accounting for roughly 70 percent of …

Shale is the most abundant sedimentary rock. It is found in sedimentary basins worldwide.

Shale is the most common sedimentary rock type, constituting approximately 70% of exposed sedimentary rock on Earth. Shale is characterized by its laminated structure, with thin, parallel layers …

May 9, 2019 · Below is a fully detailed and globally relevant overview of shale, including its formation, composition, properties, varieties, fossil content, economic significance, and geological role.

Jan 14, 2026 · RESTON, Va. — The U.S. Geological Survey released its assessment of undiscovered gas and oil in the Woodford and Barnett shales in the Permian Basin, assessing that there are …

Oct 28, 2015 · Explore the structure and origin of shale. Learn how it's formed from clay and silt and its role in Earth's sedimentary layers.

Jan 5, 2023 · Shale is the most abundant of all sedimentary rocks. It is composed primarily of soft clay minerals, but may include variable amounts of organic matter, calcareous material, and quartz …

Shale is a very fine-grained, clastic sedimentary rock which is made up mostly of clay (defined as particles smaller than 1/256 mm) and which is fissile (tending to break along natural laminations, or …

Shale is a sedimentary rock composed predominantly of clay-sized particles. Most of the particles are clay minerals, but other fine-grained clastic materials are normally present. Shale is formed by the …