Because it won't settle out flat (horizontally) by itself.
It has its own property called "angle of repose".
Chat with our AI personalities
Shale can form slopes due to its inherent properties, such as its tendency to weather and erode easily, leading to the formation of sloping landforms. Additionally, the layering and bedding of shale can contribute to the development of gentle or steep slopes over time, as differential weathering and erosion affect the rock layers unevenly. Finally, the presence of shale along fault lines or in areas with tectonic activity can result in the creation of sloping terrains through various geological processes.
Silt and clay size sediments form shale.
No. Granites is very resistant to weathering. it will often form very steep slopes and sheer cliffs.
Slate is metamorphosed shale.
Yes, compaction is a key process in the formation of shale. Shale is typically formed from the compaction of fine-grained sedimentary particles, such as clay and silt, over time. The pressure from the overlying layers compacts these particles into a solid rock, creating shale.
No, basalt cannot turn into shale. Basalt is an igneous rock formed from the cooling of lava, while shale is a sedimentary rock formed from the compaction of clay or mud. The processes that form these two types of rocks are different, so basalt cannot directly change into shale.