Fissility refers to the property of rocks to split along planes of weakness into thin sheets.^[1] This is commonly observed in shales, which are sedimentary rocks, and in slates and phyllites, which are foliated metamorphic rocks. The fissility in these rocks is caused by the preferred alignment of platy phyllosilicate grains due to compaction, deformation or new mineral growth.^[2]

See also

• Cleavage (geology)
• Fabric (geology)
• Fissile Peak
• Flocculation

References

1. ^ Tucker , M.E. 2001. Sedimentary petrology: an introduction to the origin of sedimentary rocks, WileyBlackwell, 3rd Edition, 272pp.
2. ^ Ingram, R.L. 1953. Fissility of mudrocks, GSA Bulletin, 64, 869-878.

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