metamorphic
Greenstone
Metabasalt / Chlorite-Epidote Schist
Hardness: 5-7 (Mohs); Color: dark green, grayish-green, often with yellowish or whitish veins; Luster: dull to waxy; Texture: fine-grained, sometimes foliated or schistose; Specific Gravity: 2.85-3.0.
- Hardness
- 5-7 (Mohs)
- Luster
- dull to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-7 (Mohs); Color: dark green, grayish-green, often with yellowish or whitish veins; Luster: dull to waxy; Texture: fine-grained, sometimes foliated or schistose; Specific Gravity: 2.85-3.0.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the low-grade metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks (like basalt or gabbro) under high pressure and low temperature conditions, typically in subduction zones or greenstone belts. Often Precambrian or Paleozoic in age.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction as crushed stone, for architectural stone, as garden landscaping accents, and occasionally in lapidary work for cabochons or carving.
Geological facts
The 'green' color comes from minerals like chlorite, epidote, and actinolite. Some of the oldest known rock formations on Earth are found in greenstone belts, which are critical for understanding the early Earth's crust.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its distinct greenish hue, toughness, and lack of obvious scratching by a steel nail. Common in ancient mountain belts and glacial till. Used by archaeologists to track prehistoric trade routes through stone tool remnants.
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