shales

Shale is a type of sedimentary rock formed from compacted and hardened mud and clay. It consists of tiny mineral particles and often contains organic material. Shale is important because it can hold significant amounts of oil and natural gas within its pores. Because of its fine-grained nature, shale is typically soft and breaks into thin layers or sheets. It’s found in many sedimentary basins worldwide and plays a key role in energy production through extraction methods like hydraulic fracturing, or “fracking.” Overall, shale is a common, versatile rock with substantial economic and geological significance.