Virginia Slate is quarried in Buckingham County, Virginia, USA, in the town of Arvonia. This natural stone has a distinct blue/black color and glistens due to its mica content. This unfading slate has long been used for roofing and can be found atop many federal buildings and national landmarks, including Ford's Theatre, the Smithsonian Institution, the University of Virginia and Tuckahoe Plantation (the boyhood home of Thomas Jefferson).
For many years, Buckingham Slate Company was the only active quarrier and manufacturer of slate from Buckingham County, Virginia. However, in July 2013 James River Slate Company established quarry and mill operations in Arvonia and began marketing this stone as "Grayson Slate".