metamorphic
Fuchsite Gneiss or Schist
Muscovite (variety Fuchsite) within Metamorphic Host Rock
Mohs hardness: 2.5-3 for the green micaceous parts, higher for quartz-rich matrix; Color: Emerald green to blue-green veins in gray/white matrix; Luster: Pearly to vitreous; Crystal structure: Monoclinic (as mica flake clusters)
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Emerald green to blue-green veins in gray/white matrix
- Luster
- Pearly to vitreous
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness: 2.5-3 for the green micaceous parts, higher for quartz-rich matrix; Color: Emerald green to blue-green veins in gray/white matrix; Luster: Pearly to vitreous; Crystal structure: Monoclinic (as mica flake clusters)
Formation & geological history
Formed under high-pressure, low-to-medium temperature metamorphic conditions, often in schist or gneiss. The green color is derived from chromium substitution in the muscovite mica lattice. Typically found in Precambrian terrains.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as an ornamental stone, in gemstone therapy, as a source for collectors, and occasionally for small carvings or beads.
Geological facts
Fuchsite is named after the German chemist and mineralogist Johann Nepomuk von Fuchs. It is the chromium-rich variety of muscovite mica and can sometimes be found associated with rubies (Corundum).
Field identification & locations
Identified by its distinct bright green micaceous sheen and flaky cleavage within a harder metamorphic rock. Common in regions with ancient metamorphic belts like Brazil, India, and parts of North America.
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