claystone

Compacted ancient mud

Claystone is a fine-grained sedimentary rock composed primarily of hardened clay particles.

Unlike shale, claystone lacks the thin layered structure that allows easy splitting along planes.

It forms when clay sediments compact and lithify over time: The geologist identified the reddish claystone in the cliff face.

geology

shale

Compacted clay sediment

sedimentaryFormed from deposited material
stratificationDivision into distinct levels
depositionFormal testimony under oath

compaction · lamination · fossils · outcrop · bedrock · strata · formation · weathering · erosion · porosity

construction

brick

Fired clay building unit

adobeSun-dried clay bricks
rammed earthCompacted soil as building material
mortarGrinding bowl or binder

aggregate · fill · foundation · excavation · quarry · building material · roadbed · embankment · grading · subgrade

soil

weathered

Eroded by exposure

regolithFragmented covering over bedrock
calciumElement twenty, builds bones
calciumElement twenty, builds bones

ceramics

pottery

Fired clay objects

brickmakingCreating fired clay blocks
kilnOven for hardening clay
firingTerminating employment

terracotta · stoneware · tiles · molding · adobe · slip · greenware · bisque · earthenware · refractory

composition

minerals

Inorganic natural solids

silicaSilicon dioxide compound
aluminaOxide of a light metal
feldsparSilicate mineral group

quite · calcium · iron oxide · calcium carbonate · calcium · calcium

Opposites

grain size

claystoneconglomerate

Corporation spanning many industries

sandstone · breccia · gritstone · gravel · siltstone

rock texture/porosity

claystonesandstone

Cemented grain sediment

limestone · porous rock · pumice · chalk

rock texture

claystonepumice

Lightweight volcanic abrasive

scoria · granite

Family

stone, clay, stones, mudstone, siltstone

Familiarity: Top 1,000,000
Profile: Used worldwide · Timeless · Concrete · Rated G