mineral
Fuchsite
K(Al,Cr)2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 (Chromium-rich Muscovite)
Hardness: 2.0-3.0; Color: Emerald green to light green; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect basal; Specific gravity: 2.77-2.88
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Emerald green to light green
- Luster
- Vitreous to pearly
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.0-3.0; Color: Emerald green to light green; Luster: Vitreous to pearly; Crystal structure: Monoclinic; Cleavage: Perfect basal; Specific gravity: 2.77-2.88
Formation & geological history
Forms in regional metamorphic environments, typically within mica schists or gneisses. Its green color comes from trivalent chromium substituting for aluminum in the mica structure.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a decorative stone, as a pigment in paints (mica flake), and increasingly popular in the metaphysical and jewelry trade as cabochons.
Geological facts
Fuchsite is named after the German chemist and mineralogist Johann Nepomuk von Fuchs. It is responsible for the green color in the popular gemstone known as Aventurine (where fuchsite is an inclusion in quartz).
Field identification & locations
Identify by its distinctive flaky mica-like cleavage and bright green color. Found in high-grade metamorphic terrains like those in Brazil, India, Russia, and Zimbabwe.
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