noun
- a type of sedimentary rock formed from compressed mud or clay that splits easily into thin layers
Usage: geology
Examples
- The geologist identified layers of shale in the cliff face.
- Oil companies extract natural gas from shale formations through fracking.
- The shale crumbled easily when exposed to weathering.
- Fossils are often well-preserved in shale deposits.
- The hiking trail passed through an area rich in shale outcroppings.
- Shale oil has become an important energy resource in recent years.