A strong leader and hearty too, perhaps, with many layers. (5)
I believe the answer is:
shale
'a strong leader and hearty too perhaps with many layers' is the definition.
I can't tell whether this defines the answer.
'a strong leader and hearty' is the wordplay.
'leader' suggests taking the first letters.
'and' is a charade indicator (letters next to each other).
'hearty' becomes 'hale' (I've seen this in another clue).
The initial letter of 'strong' is 's'.
's'+'hale'='SHALE'
Can you help me to learn more?
(Other definitions for shale that I've seen before include "Soft rock; heals (anag.)" , "Oil-bearing rock" , "Type of soft rock" , "Layered sedimentary rock" , "Clayey rock" .)