Mudstone - Clay becomes cemented to form mudstone Particles smaller than 0.004 mm in diameter Size of mudstone: 7 cm Fossil-bearing Black Mudstone Deposited in stagnant water, an environment that promotes fossil preservation Size: 7 cm Shale – Splits into pieces due to the preferred orientation of clay minerals Particles smaller than 0.004 mm in diameter Size: 13 cm Oil Shale - Contains significant amounts of organic material present as kerogen Colorado, USA Size: 10 cm Siltstone – Deposited in slowly moving currents Particle sizes between 0.004 mm and 0.06 mm Size: 11 cm Brachiopod-bearing Siltstone Fossils are evidence of past life environments and time indicators Size: 15 cm Loess and Compacted loess deposit Aeolian sediment which forms by the accumulation of wind-blown silt Rhine, Germany Size: 7 cm