Mudstone

Mudstone is a type of fine-grained rock made from tiny particles of clay and mud. It is part of a group of rocks called mudrocks. Mudstone is different from shale because it does not split easily into thin layers.

Scientists use the word mudstone to describe two kinds of rocks. Sometimes it means rocks made mostly from carbonate mud, like limestone or dolomite. But most often, it refers to siliciclastic mudstone, which is made from minerals like quartz and feldspar.

In space news, the NASA Curiosity rover found mudstone on Mars. These rocks contained substances such as propane, benzene, and toluene, which help scientists learn about possible life on Mars.

Definition

Mudstone is a type of rock made from very small particles of clay and mud. These particles are so tiny that you need a microscope to see them clearly. Unlike some other rocks, mudstone does not have layers that you can easily split apart.

Scientists often study mudstone to learn about its tiny parts, which include clay, quartz, and feldspar. Depending on how it formed, mudstone might look like hardened clay and could have cracks similar to dry earth.

Carbonate mudstone

In the Dunham classification system for limestones, a mudstone is a type of carbonate rock that has less than 10% grains. It is mostly made of tiny carbonate pieces.

In December 2016, NASA shared new information suggesting that Mars might have once been a place where life could live. The Curiosity rover found important elements in mudstone rocks that are very old.