Silt and clay size sediments form shale.
Fine sediments that form shale are typically deposited in quiet, low-energy environments such as deep ocean floors, lake beds, or river deltas. These settings allow for the gradual accumulation of fine particles, such as clay and silt, which settle out of suspension in the water. Over time, layers of these sediments become compacted and lithified, transforming into shale. The fine grain size of these sediments indicates a lack of strong currents or wave action during deposition.
It depends on how you are defining the word 'soft'. Quartzite is the hardest and most durable of the three - no question there. Shale can be crumbled with the tap of a hammer. Some loosely cemented sandstone can be crumbled when squeezed hard enough with your hand and some is well cemented and quite hard.
Clay rocks are made of the smallest sediment particles. These fine-grained particles are typically less than 0.002 mm in size and form rocks such as shale or mudstone.
Silt particles are usually classified as being between 0.002 mm and 0.063 mm in size
Silt and clay size sediments form shale.
Silt and clay size sediments form shale.
Fine sediments that form shale are typically deposited in quiet, low-energy environments such as deep ocean floors, lake beds, or river deltas. These settings allow for the gradual accumulation of fine particles, such as clay and silt, which settle out of suspension in the water. Over time, layers of these sediments become compacted and lithified, transforming into shale. The fine grain size of these sediments indicates a lack of strong currents or wave action during deposition.
Siltstone is composed of silt-sized particles that range in size from 1/256 to 1/16 millimeter. These particles are smaller than sand but larger than clay, giving siltstone its characteristic fine-grained texture.
It depends on how you are defining the word 'soft'. Quartzite is the hardest and most durable of the three - no question there. Shale can be crumbled with the tap of a hammer. Some loosely cemented sandstone can be crumbled when squeezed hard enough with your hand and some is well cemented and quite hard.
Clay rocks are made of the smallest sediment particles. These fine-grained particles are typically less than 0.002 mm in size and form rocks such as shale or mudstone.
Shale is composed of very fine particles that are typically clay-sized, which means they have a diameter of less than 0.002 millimeters. These particles are compacted and cemented together to form the rock known as shale.
the smallest particles of sediment are found in clay.
Silt particles are usually classified as being between 0.002 mm and 0.063 mm in size
Shale is generally considered to be a lightweight rock relative to its size. It has a low density due to its high porosity and the presence of organic materials. While it can vary in weight depending on its specific composition and moisture content, shale is typically less dense than many other types of sedimentary rocks. Therefore, for its size, shale is not classified as heavy.
Silt particles have a size range between 0.002 to 0.05 mm, making them smaller than sand but larger than clay.
Shale typically has a grain size of less than 1/256 mm, which classifies it as a fine-grained sedimentary rock.