Mwachilengedwe, Slate ndi thanthwe labwino kwambiri lopangidwa ndi phulusa la sedimentary kapena volcanic phulusa lomwe kudzera mu metamorphism lasinthidwa mwamapangidwe.Slate ili ndi mizere iwiri yosweka - cleavage ndi njere.Izi zimapangitsa kuti slate igawike kukhala mapepala opyapyala, omwe amatha kudulidwa ndi kupangidwa kukhala zitsulo zapadenga, komanso ntchito zina zambiri.
CDPH Slate imagwiritsa ntchito zaka zomwe takumana nazo kuti zitsimikizire kuti mtundu wa matailosi achilengedwe umaposa zomwe makasitomala amayembekeza, ponse pamikhalidwe yeniyeni ya malonda komanso pampikisano wamitengo yomwe titha kupereka.
Masileti athu atha kugwiritsidwa ntchito ngati matailosi apakhoma, matailosi apansi, matailosi a denga, miyala yokhotakhota, masitepe, ma Curbs, Kerbstone, Crazy Pavers, Flagstones, Steppers, stepping Stone, Steps, Fence and Chips.