Slates - Know more & Why the Brazilian Slate?

During a current project with a client , we have to develop the business of Slates. As a business developer , I personally felt that till I know every little thing about this beautiful Naturally created material, I would not be able to do justice. So I have started my understanding and I would want to share it with you .

ps : If you find anything to be wrong , please do feel free to correct me

Slates are Metamorphic Natural rock . But to know what a Slate is , You must know what a Shale is?

When Mud Sediments in earth are exposed to a hugh temperature & pressure over a large time period then these Sediments form a layer called Shale. This is a sedimentary rock quite brittle and not hard.

When Shale is expposed to a high temperature and pressure for another large time period , we have Slates.

Shale are too brittle while Slates are strong. On the Natural Scale of Hardness called MOH it ranks at 4- 5 from 1 - 10 depending on its quality. 1 being softest and 10 being the hardest.

It lacks Lustre because light does not pass through it.

Slates are in parallel layers like wafers/cleavages hence can be easily cut to size and into thin sheets. You will find slates with thickness from 3 mm to 20 mm plus.

The colors of the slates are basically because of the minerals in the slates which is relatively simple. Red - Hermatite , Green - Chlorite , Blue - Grey - Sericite ,Graphite Dark - Carbonite , Yellow - Brown : Limonite. So when you hear a mix color it is because of the Minerals above creating a beautiful texture.

Slates quality is judged primarily by 3 minerals . Quartz , Carbonite and Mica.

Once you know this basics .

How do you buy a slate?

Choose the Purpose : Once you know the purpose then you know the need. Slates for roofing in a place where there is longer time snow load over lesser time has different thickness. For longer loads - 10 - 12 mm for smaller loads - 3- 5 mm. A floor slate is different from a roof slate and has different /larger thickness.

Know your Color : Well we all are fans of anything Aesthetics. So choose a color that fascinates you but is also Unique. Unique and Aesthetic is a must buy combination.

Ask the questions? : Is this Absorption tested and which standards. Lately there are BS and BS EN standards that say it should be max 0.6. Is there a certification? How durable is the slate? Slates are made from Quarry rock .So what is the process they used to make rock into thin sheets ? This will affect the strength and life term of your slates.Don't forget to ask the manufacture the most important question ? What guarantee does he give on the slates.

Lately we visited a well known 5 star hotel in Abudhabi and we found the Natural stone on the steps to be weathered out . This means that even the hotel that holds the highest level of procurement was not asking the right questions.

I am studying more and more daily and do not want my Linked In friends to be battered with major technical points but I want you to know what a Slate is and How should you buy a slate for value of your money with the right questions to the seller? I would buy a slate on the bs that some salesman would give me before honestly . Not anymore.

The Brazilian Slate that we sell comes from our Quarry in Brazil with only 2 colors

Graphite ,Grey Green .

The thing I believe is that because of the difference in the minerals , No 2 nos of the same color slates look same with a beautiful individual pattern per slate.

We might be the only ones from brazil who can give you the technical approvals and a warranty of our product. You will not find another and If you do then you must let me know. I would appreciate it. Because I believe we are Unique in all ways when it comes to our Brazilian Quarry but we are always open to learning more and answering any queries.

Please send me any queries you have on [email protected] and I will try to answer it to the best of my knowledge or just dash me a mail to have a discussion in which I can learn more.

My Journey with slates has just begun !

Thank you for your time,

Kind Regards,

Ceejay.