Slate gray



Slate gray is a moderate shade of gray with a slight azure tinge, which represents the average color of slate, a metamorphic rock often used in stonemasonry. As a tertiary color, slate is an equal mix of purple and green pigments.
Slaty, referring to this color, is often used to describe birds.
The first recorded use of slate gray as a color name in English was in 1705.

Variations

Light slate gray

Displayed at right is the web color light slate gray.

Dark slate gray

Displayed at right is the web color dark slate gray.

In human culture

Computers
File:Thinking machines cm2.jpg|thumb|150px|left|Mid-1980s supercomputer Thinking Machines CM-1 at the Computer History Museum in Mountain View, California. One of the face plates has been partially removed to show the circuit boards inside.
File:Roadrunner supercomputer HiRes.jpg|thumb|IBM Roadrunner supercomputer—the fastest supercomputer in the world in May 2008, it could operate at a speed of 1.026 petaflops|right|175px
  • The exterior shells of supercomputers are often colored various shades of slate gray.
  • The iPhone 5 and the iPad Mini comes in a dark slate gray colored aluminum body contrasted with black.
  • Western Electric used the term SLATE for the color instead of gray in their 25-pair cable for pairs 5-10-15-20-25.
Transportation
  • The S New York City Subway service bullet, used in three out of the system's services, is colored slate gray.
Military
  • The Fleet Air Arm aircraft Temperate Day Scheme in the World War Two was dark slate gray over extra dark sea gray on top sides and Sky on undersides. This scheme was referred as "slime over sludge".