MARKET OVERVIEW:

The United States is one of the chief producers of dimension stone in the world, having generated an estimated 2.73 million tons in 2017. Slate sales often make up the smallest portion of this market.

Extensive and productive slate deposits exist in the eastern US, and large volumes of slate are imported into the US from China, India, Brazil, Canada, and Spain. Comparatively small quantities of slate products are exported from the United States to Canada and the UK.

Sources: Dolley, T.P. 2018. Mineral Commodity Summaries 2017. U.S. Geological Survey. US Government Printing Office. Washington, DC: 156-157.  Stone World Magazine. Monthly Statistics. Accessed 07 August 2018.
https://www.stoneworld.com/Stone-Import-Export-Stats/2018-April.

Products & Applications

Common Dimensions

Characteristics of quarried stone are dependent upon the attributes of the deposit from which the stone was extracted; each quarry is able to offer a range of products unique in dimensions, color, and structural properties to its deposit. Therefore, it is preferable that the designer and stone supplier collaborate closely prior to and throughout the design process since planning a project around readily available stone reduces the environmental impact of raw material extraction. Slate is quarried in irregularly-shaped slabs by being split along natural cleavage. Slab dimensions often fall within the following ranges but may also be extracted in larger sizes as a deposit permits:

• AREA (length x width): 1-60 ft²
• THICKNESS: 4-24 inches

Common Building Applications

• Cladding (exterior/interior)
• Countertops
• Landscaping
• Roofing
• Paving
• Coping
• Flooring

Available Finishes

Custom finishes may also be available through your stone supplier.

Formation & Sources

Slate is a metamorphic deposit that evolves from sedimentary rock consisting of clay or volcanic ash. While typically composed of numerous minerals, the predominant constituents include quartz and muscovite or illite.

The slate quarried in North America comes mainly from the eastern regions of the United States and Canada, particularly from the slate belts of New York, Pennsylvania, and Vermont.

Environmental Data

Source: Natural Stone Council. Slate Dimensional Stone Quarrying and Processing: A Life-Cycle Inventory. August 2009. Center for Clean Products. University of Tennessee.

Indoor Air Quality

Volatile Organic Compounds (VOCs)

• None emitted directly from slate
•  May source from adhesives and sealants applied; low-VOC options are available on the market
• Resources: refer to MSDS of chemical(s) used

Physical Properties

A wide variety of slates exist on the market, both foreign and domestic, and these can be drastically different in density, hardness, porosity, and aesthetics. Users should verify that the slate they plan to use is applicable to the demands of the project and has a successful history in such installations. ASTM test data is the most common data available to compare the properties of any stone, including slate.

Durability

• Flooring: 100 years with proper maintenance
• Roofing: 20-40 years for Grade S, 40-75 years for Grade S, and over 75 years for Grade S1 with proper maintenance
• Other exterior applications: lifetime

Source: American Society for Testing and Materials. ASTM C-406 Standard Specification for Roofing Slate. 2006.06.01 (E 2006).

National Association of Home Builders. 2007. Study of Life Expectancy of Home Components. http://www.nahb.org/fileUpload_details.aspx?contentID=72475.

Reuse & Recyclability

• Ensure reclaimed slate meets ASTM specifications before using for structural purposes
• Example Applications
  • Aggregate/fill
  • Memorials/monuments
  • Retaining walls
  • Walkways
  • Landscaping
  • Re-installation on other buildings