A very fine-grained metamorphic rock formed from mudstone or shale, showing a silky sheen and capable of splitting into thin sheets.
From Greek 'phyllon' (leaf) plus '-ite' (mineral/rock suffix), referring to how the rock splits into leaf-like layers.
Filite is technically slate's even finer-grained cousin—roofs in England have been shingled with the same filite for 500+ years, and some pieces are still weather-proof after centuries!
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