fracture: Quick Facts

Written and fact-checked by

The Information Architects of Encyclopaedia Britannica

Photos

$Slate, a metamorphic rock, showing typical splintery fracture and thin layering (slightly larger than life-size).$

See All Images →

Topics

splintery fracture conchoidal fracture hackly fracture mineral lustre pyroelectricity pleochroic halo iridescence cleavage streak fire asterism chatoyance hardness