Slate

Crockett, R.N.. 1975 Slate. London, UK, HMSO, 31pp. (Mineral Dossier No. 12)

Before downloading, please read NORA policies.

Preview

Text
B02694.pdf
Download (1MB) | Preview

Abstract/Summary

True slates, that is to say rocks of sedimentary or volcanic origin possessing the property of slaty cleavage, are widely distributed within older, folded geological strata of the northern and western areas of the United Kingdom. The slate resources of the United Kingdom are large but their exploitation is now confined to Cornwall, Devon, North Wales and the Lake District. The traditional use for slate is as roofing tiles, but the material also finds application for other architectural purposes. Crushed slate is sold as a filler and coarser granulated slate can be used in a number of building applications. Architectural slate is a costly material to produce. Slate roofing tiles, for example, may cost as much as £ 107 per tonne. This price is, however, inclusive of quarrying and subsequent dressing costs. Finer grades of slate powder may cost as much as £ 14 per tonne. Slate is produced from open quarries or, exceptionally, from underground mines. Methods used for removal of slate from the working face are conditioned by the need to reduce the amount of waste produced. The production of large quantities of waste in the past has stimulated a search for possible markets, particularly in the form of crushed slate. Dressing of slate for architectural purposes can be mechanised to some degree but production of roofing tiles has become increasingly expensive owing to the continued necessity to employ skilled labour for their fabrication. Domestic production of slate is now a mere fraction of its former magnitude. In 1898 650,000 tonnes of slate were produced in the United Kingdom but this had declined to 64,000 tonnes in 1973. The effect of trade in slate on the United Kingdom balance of payments is small but is at present favourable. Of the surviving slate producers the largest operation is the massive Penrhyn Quarry in North Wales. The largest concerns in the Lake District and in Cornwall have recently amalgamated. About ten other producers are known to be active in Cornwall, Devon, North Wales and the Lake District. No slate production is now recorded from Scotland.

Item Type:	Publication - Report
Programmes:	BGS Programmes > Economic Minerals
Funders/Sponsors:	Institute of Geological Sciences
Additional Keywords:	Mineral, Slate
NORA Subject Terms:	Earth Sciences
Date made live:	25 Jul 2025 11:41 +0 (UTC)
URI:	https://nora.nerc.ac.uk/id/eprint/539902

Item Type:

Publication - Report

Programmes:

BGS Programmes > Economic Minerals

Funders/Sponsors:

Institute of Geological Sciences

Additional Keywords:

Mineral, Slate

NORA Subject Terms:

Earth Sciences

Date made live:

25 Jul 2025 11:41 +0 (UTC)