What is it and where is it formed?  Slate is a metamorphic rock.  Slate is actually shale that had low heat and not very much pressure put on it.  Slate is mostly formed in mountain areas.  It takes thousands of years for slate to change.  Slate can be any color but is mostly found in gray or black.  When it is broken, it splits into layers.  It can have quartz, muscovite, hematite, graphite, and other minerals in it.

How and where is it mined?   Slate is mined using quarrying.  It is mined in Pennsylvania, Maine, Georgia, and Vermont.  It is mined throughout the world in places like Wales.

What is it used for?  Slate is used for roofing, floors, and it was used for blackboards.  If it is crushed, it is used in paints and flooring.