uncommon
black shale
Antrim shale
The tell
Splits into flat sheets and is noticeably LIGHT for its size. Basalt is heavy and does not split.
Antrim shale is an oil shale. A freshly broken piece, wet, sometimes smells faintly of tar. That is genuinely the hydrocarbon in it.
What it gets mistaken for
- basalt
- lightning stone
- slate
- coal
The facts
- also calledAntrim shale
- age~360 million yrs
- where it turns upNW Lower Michigan ยท Antrim belt
- on the chartuncommon · 750 stickers ever
Put it on the shelf
Every stone on this chart is drawn and kiss-cut at three inches. The rarer the stone, the fewer exist: only 750 black shale will ever be printed, then the run is retired.
10% of every order goes to the Roscommon County Animal Shelter.