Dachschiefer

Roofing slate

Lehesten, Thuringian Slate Mountains
Dachschiefer
Image: IGW

What is written on the plate:

Roofing slate

The Thuringian roofing slate is an almost pure chlorite slate. Iron-rich chlorites color the rock blue-black. Their emplacement in the schistosity plane causes the good cleavage along the surface. The former stratification is marked by nodular enrichments of pyrite concretions. The rock was formed by the metamorphic transformation of a marine clay mud.

Lehesten Formation, Lower Carboniferous, 
Lehesten, Thuringian Slate Mountains, ca. 360 Ma

Roofing slate

Location: Lehesten, Thuringian Slate Mountains

Age: ca. 360 million years

Lehesten, Thüringisches Schiefergebirge
Lehesten, Thüringisches Schiefergebirge
Image: Google Maps

Roofing slate is a sedimentary rock belonging to the shales. Shales are tectonically deformed and, in some cases, metamorphic rocks with excellent fissility along closely spaced parallel surfaces, the schistosity surfaces.
However, the term "shale" is also used for undeformed, fine-grained sedimentary rocks that exhibit similar fissility. Clay slate is a type of slate that is common and used for a variety of purposes.

Roofing slate is characterized by its particular texture and color. It consists mainly of clay minerals and has a dark gray to black color. Its schistosity allows it to be split into thin slabs that have a smooth and even surface. These characteristics make roofing slate a popular material for roofing and cladding.

The use of roofing slate as a roofing material has a long tradition. For centuries it has been valued for its durability and weather resistance. Roof slate roofs are not only functional, but also give buildings an aesthetically pleasing appearance. The dark color of slate contrasts with other building materials and blends well with the natural environment.

In addition to its use in construction, roofing slate is also used in the design of outdoor facilities and in horticulture. It is used, for example, for paving, steps and wall cladding. Due to its non-slip surface, it is well suited for areas where a high degree of slip resistance is required.

Roofing slate is extracted in quarries where the rock is mined. After quarrying, the slate is split into slabs and further processed. In the process, the slabs are often still cut into the desired shape and prepared for use.

Overall, roofing slate is a versatile rock with a long tradition in construction. Its natural beauty, durability and weather resistance make it a popular choice for roofs, facades...

Location of the rock roofing slate near the village Lehesten
Location of the rock roofing slate near the village Lehesten
Image: Thomas Voigt