Roofing slates are roofing tiles made out of slate. The rock is split into thin sheets which are cut to the required size before shipment. This contrasts to slabs which are milled to produce larger structural components.[1][2] They are the primary product of the slate industry.[3][4][5]
The Romans were the first to mine and install standard-sized slate on roofs.[6]
In his writings, Pliny the Elder mentions the existence of slate in Liguria, near Genoa.
The world's biggest consumer of slate is France, followed by the UK, USA and Germany.
In 2012, Spain produced more than 580,000 tonnes (570,000 long tons; 640,000 short tons) of slate worth about $380 million. This made it the largest slate producer in the world, followed by China and Brazil.[7][8]
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