A property of a rock that allows for easy breaking along parallel planes or surfaces. Metamorphic rocks tend to break or cleave most easily along planes parallel with foliation. Cleavage is present along planes separated by microscopic dimensions. The planes are smooth and regular. Cleavage fragments are barely visible to the naked eye.
Fragments are thicker than slaty cleavage and the cleavage planes are somewhat more irregular.
Cleavage in the form of flakes, clearly visible. Rough cleavage surfaces. Coarse foliation or banding in which the bands are of different mineral composition. Cleavage planes are irregular and rough. No preferred orientation of minerals.