metamorphic
Eclogite
Eclogite (Omphacite + Almandine-Pyrope Garnet)
Hardness: 6.5-7.5. Color: Distinctive 'Christmas tree' appearance with red-to-pink garnets in a green pyroxene matrix. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Structure: Granular, high-density rock. Specific Gravity: 3.2-3.6.
- Hardness
- 6
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More metamorphic →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 6.5-7.5. Color: Distinctive 'Christmas tree' appearance with red-to-pink garnets in a green pyroxene matrix. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Structure: Granular, high-density rock. Specific Gravity: 3.2-3.6.
Formation & geological history
Formed under extreme high-pressure, low-to-moderate temperature conditions (high-pressure metamorphism) typically in subduction zones at depths of 45+ km. Often associated with Precambrian or Phanerozoic geological ages.
Uses & applications
Primarily of scientific value for studying mantle conditions and plate tectonics; occasionally used as a decorative stone or abrasive garnet source.
Geological facts
Eclogite is often called the 'King of Metamorphism' because it represents the highest pressure conditions of the Earth's crust. It is chemically identical to basalt but mineralogically different due to the extreme pressure.
Field identification & locations
Identify by looking for dense, heavy specimens containing bright red garnets embedded in a dark to emerald green matrix (omphacite). Commonly found in the Norwegian Western Gneiss Region, the Alps, and California's Franciscan Complex.
More like this
