igneous
Basalt with Epidote/Quartz Vein
Mafic Volcanic Rock with Hydrothermal Veining
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Dark green to black matrix with yellowish-green and whitish veins. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline matrix with fibrous or granular vein filling.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More igneous →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale. Color: Dark green to black matrix with yellowish-green and whitish veins. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal Structure: Microcrystalline matrix with fibrous or granular vein filling.
Formation & geological history
Formed via rapid cooling of basaltic lava. Subsequent tectonic stress created micro-fractures, which were later filled by mineral-rich hydrothermal fluids depositing epidote and quartz veins.
Uses & applications
Primarily collected as beach pebbles and lapidary specimens; basalt itself is used as crushed stone in construction and road building.
Geological facts
Veined rocks like this are often nicknamed 'wishbone stones' when the veins form a 'Y' shape. The distinctive pistachio-green color in the vein is characteristic of epidote mineralization.
Field identification & locations
Commonly found on gravel beaches, riverbeds, and glacial deposits in volcanic terrains. Identified by the contrast between the dark fine-grained basalt host rock and light-colored mineral vein-fills.
