Russian Translation(s) & Details for 'shale'

English Word: shale

Key Russian Translations:

• сланец [ˈslanʲɪts] - [Formal, Used in scientific or geological contexts]

Frequency: Medium (Common in technical and geological discussions but not in everyday conversation)

Difficulty: B2 (Intermediate; Requires familiarity with scientific terminology, as per CEFR standards)

Pronunciation (Russian):

сланец: [ˈslanʲɪts]

Note on сланец: The stress is on the first syllable, and the 'ц' sound is a voiceless alveolar affricate, which may be challenging for English speakers. Pronounce it with a soft 'n' sound as in 'onion'.

Audio: []

Meanings and Usage:

Meaning: A fine-grained sedimentary rock composed of clay minerals and organic matter, often used in geology.

Translation(s) & Context:

• сланец - Typically used in formal, academic, or professional settings, such as discussions about mining or environmental science.

Usage Examples:

• В горах мы нашли залежи сланца, который используется для производства керамики.

  In the mountains, we found deposits of shale, which is used for producing ceramics.

• Сланец часто содержит полезные ископаемые, такие как нефть.

  Shale often contains useful minerals, such as oil.

• Геологи изучают сланец для понимания истории Земли.

  Geologists study shale to understand the history of the Earth.

• Из сланца добывают сланцевый газ, что стало важным источником энергии.

  Shale is extracted for shale gas, which has become an important energy source.

• В музее есть экспонаты сланца из разных регионов России.

  In the museum, there are exhibits of shale from various regions of Russia.

Russian Forms/Inflections:

"сланец" is a masculine noun of the second declension in Russian. It follows regular patterns for most cases but has no irregularities. Below is a table outlining its inflections based on case and number:

Note: This noun does not change in gender and is invariant in its stem, making it straightforward for learners.

Russian Synonyms/Antonyms:

• Synonyms:
  • глинистый камень (glineesty kamen') - A broader term for clay-based rocks, often used interchangeably in informal contexts.
  • аргиллит (argillit) - More specific to certain types of shale, with a focus on fine-grained varieties.
• Antonyms:
  • песчаник (peschanik) - Sandstone, representing a contrasting type of sedimentary rock.

Related Phrases:

• сланцевый газ (slanetsvy gaz) - Shale gas; Refers to natural gas extracted from shale formations, a key energy resource.
• сланцевые породы (slanetsvyye porody) - Shale rocks; Used to describe groups of sedimentary rocks in geological studies.
• добыча сланца (dobyacha slanetsa) - Shale mining; Common phrase for the extraction process in industrial contexts.

Usage Notes:

"сланец" directly corresponds to the English word "shale" in geological contexts, but it's primarily used in formal or technical settings. English speakers should note that Russian often requires the appropriate case for the noun based on sentence structure (e.g., genitive for possession). When choosing between synonyms like "аргиллит," opt for "сланец" in general discussions. Be mindful of its masculine gender, which affects adjective agreements, such as "твёрдый сланец" (hard shale).

Common Errors:

• Error: Using "сланец" in the wrong case, e.g., saying "из сланец" instead of "из сланца" (genitive for "from shale").

  Correct: из сланца. Explanation: Russian nouns must agree in case with prepositions; "из" requires genitive.

• Error: Confusing "сланец" with "песчаник" (sandstone) due to similar rock types.

  Correct: Use "сланец" for fine-grained, clay-based rocks. Explanation: These are distinct geological terms, and mixing them can lead to inaccuracies in scientific communication.

Cultural Notes:

In Russia, "сланец" is often associated with the country's vast natural resources, including shale gas deposits in regions like Western Siberia. This ties into broader cultural and economic themes, such as energy independence and environmental debates, reflecting Russia's historical reliance on mineral extraction for industrial development.

Related Concepts:

• камень (kamen') - General term for stone or rock.
• осадочные породы (osadochnyye porody) - Sedimentary rocks.
• нефть (neft') - Oil, often found in shale formations.