Fundamental controls on mudstone lithofacies variability

细粒沉积物(例如页岩)在地球表面很常见。它们是重要的资源，因为它们在石油系统中产生碳氢化合物，是重型陶瓷工业(如制砖、磨料制造等)的原材料。其细小的颗粒尺寸、手部标本中明显的均质性以及对风化的敏感性，使它们的研究变得困难。因此，相对于其他类型的沉积岩，它们鲜为人知。

Fine-grained sediments (e.g. shales) are common on the Earth's surface. They are important resources because they generate hydrocarbons in petroleum systems and are raw materials for the heavy ceramic industry (e.g. brick making, filer manufacture etc.). Their fine grain size, apparent homogeneity in hand specimen, and susceptibility to weathering, make them difficult to study. Consequently, they are poorly known relative to other sedimentary rock types.