metamorphic
Greenstone
Metabasalt
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: green to dark green, often with dark gray or black veins; Luster: dull to waxy; Structure: massive or slightly foliated; Gravity: 2.8-3.3
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- green to dark green, often with dark gray or black veins
- Luster
- dull to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs scale); Color: green to dark green, often with dark gray or black veins; Luster: dull to waxy; Structure: massive or slightly foliated; Gravity: 2.8-3.3
Formation & geological history
Formed through the low-grade regional metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks (like basalt) at low temperatures and pressures. Most common in Archean and Proterozoic greenstone belts.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as crushed stone for construction, road base, and occasionally as decorative stone or for lapidary work including beads and small carvings.
Geological facts
Greenstone belts represent some of the oldest parts of the Earth's crust and are often associated with major world-class gold deposits.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive greenish hue (caused by minerals like chlorite, epidote, or actinolite) and its toughness. Frequently found as rounded river or beach stones in formerly glaciated or mountainous regions.
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