Mudrocks are a class of fine grained siliciclastic sedimentary rocks.

The varyin
g types of mudrocks include: siltstone, claystone, mudstone, slate, and shale. M
ost of the particles are less than 0.0625 mm (1/16th mm or 0.0025 inches) and ar
e too small to study readily in the field. At first sight the rock types look qu
ite similar; however, there are important differences in composition and nomencl
ature. There has been a great deal of disagreement involving the classification
of mudrocks. There are a few important hurdles to classification, including:
Mudrocks are the least understood, and one of the most understudied sedimentary
rocks to date
It is difficult to study mudrock constituents, due to their diminutive size and
susceptibility to weathering on outcrops
And most importantly, there is more than one classification scheme accepted by s
cientists