How is slate produced?
You can buy slate in rectangular and square sizes that range from machine-finished pieces about 1/4 inch thick, which are best for counters and walls, to hand-split ones about 1/2 to 1 inch thick, which are most suitable for floors and terraces. When you look at the edge of a slate tile, you can see it’s comprised of multiple thin layers. These layers indicate how slate looks in its natural form. Slate is usually split from the quarry in layers. These layers form surface clefting, which is gives slate its pronounced surface texture. The slate is then cut into tiles or trim shapes, and it can be natural clefted, tumbled or honed. What is honed slate? The face of a slate tile is naturally clefted or uneven. However there are applications where a smooth face is desirable. Some slates and quartzites can have the face ground down to a smooth faced product. This process is known as honing. Many honed quartzites still have an appearance of depth and texture because of their mineral content. W
