metamorphic
Fuchsite on Quartz
Muscovite (KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2) with Chromium impurities
Hardness: 2-3 (Fuchsite), 7 (Quartz); Color: Emerald green to pale green flakes on white/light grey matrix; Luster: Pearly to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect mica-like cleavage in the green portions.
- Hardness
- 2-3 (Fuchsite), 7 (Quartz)
- Luster
- Pearly to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2-3 (Fuchsite), 7 (Quartz); Color: Emerald green to pale green flakes on white/light grey matrix; Luster: Pearly to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect mica-like cleavage in the green portions.
Formation & geological history
Formed during regional metamorphism of clay-rich sediments or the hydrothermal alteration of ultramafic rocks. The presence of trivalent chromium gives it the distinct green color.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a decorative stone, mineral specimen for collectors, and sometimes ground up as a pigment or glitter. It is a popular stone in metaphysical circles.
Geological facts
Fuchsite is named after the German chemist and mineralogist Johann Nepomuk von Fuchs. It is a chromium-rich variety of muscovite. When it occurs in massive form as a rock mixed with other minerals, it is often called Verdyte.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by looking for bright green micaceous scales that sparkle in the light, usually hosted within a white or tan quartz or schist matrix. Common in metamorphic belts like those in Brazil, India, and Russia.
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