Slate (Purple)

“A regal twist on a classic rock”

Metamorphic

Purple slate is a variety of slate that gets its distinctive color from hematite inclusions or from manganese-rich parent shales. Like all slate, it cleaves into smooth, flat sheets, but its unusual color has made it a sought-after material for decorative roofing and artisan crafts.

Composition

quartz, muscovite, chlorite, hematite, manganese oxides

Where Found

North Wales (UK), Vermont (USA), Newfoundland (Canada), Liguria (Italy)

Mohs Hardness

3-4

Fun Fact

The Penrhyn Quarry in Wales has produced purple and heather-colored slate for over 200 years and is one of the largest man-made holes in the world.