The lively colors and unique texture make slates appropriate for interior as well as exterior applications. Slate is formed of compressed layers of sediments formed under ocean. Since it is formed in layers, it can easily be split to expose beautifully textured surfaces. The usual colors of slates are earthy browns, beiges, yellows, black, dark-grays, and greenish-gray, pinks, purples and copper are also found. They usually exhibit lot of variations even in the same quarry. Slates are used for flooring, cladding and landscaping.