: a fissile rock that is formed by the consolidation of clay, mud, or silt, has a finely stratified or laminated structure, and is composed of minerals essentially unaltered since deposition
Examples of shale in a Sentence
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Since its nationalization, YPF has accelerated the development of Argentina's vast shale gas reserves in the Vaca Muerta field in Patagonia.
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ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
But oil companies learned hard lessons during the shale boom of the 2010s about the risks of chasing short-term price signals, and more pushback could be coming soon.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Without baryte, Wang noted, modern hydrocarbon exploration – including shale extraction – would effectively come to a standstill.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026
This ocean canyon heaves waves of shale and basalt, quartz and silt.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shale
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ABC News, 27 Mar. 2026
But oil companies learned hard lessons during the shale boom of the 2010s about the risks of chasing short-term price signals, and more pushback could be coming soon.
—Tim McDonnell, semafor.com, 26 Mar. 2026
Without baryte, Wang noted, modern hydrocarbon exploration – including shale extraction – would effectively come to a standstill.
—Bojan Stojkovski, Interesting Engineering, 21 Mar. 2026
This ocean canyon heaves waves of shale and basalt, quartz and silt.
—Literary Hub, 18 Mar. 2026
See All Example Sentences for shale
Cite this Entry
“Shale.” Merriam-Webster.com Dictionary, Merriam-Webster, https://www.merriam-webster.com/dictionary/shale. Accessed 1 Apr. 2026.
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