sedimentary
Glauconitic Siltstone / Mudstone
Glauconitic Pelite
Hardness: 3–4 (Mohs scale), Color: Dull grayish-green, Luster: Earthy to matte, Structure: Fine-grained, silty texture with rounded/water-worn edges, Cleavage: None (conchoidal to irregular fracture).
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Physical properties
Hardness: 3–4 (Mohs scale), Color: Dull grayish-green, Luster: Earthy to matte, Structure: Fine-grained, silty texture with rounded/water-worn edges, Cleavage: None (conchoidal to irregular fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed in shallow marine environments through the slow accumulation of fine silts and the chemical alteration of clay minerals into glauconite, typically during the Cretaceous or Paleogene periods. Commonly found in coastal or glacial outwash deposits.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as a source of potassium for fertilizers in agriculture if rich in glauconite (green sand); otherwise, it is a common field stone or river pebble with minor decorative use.
Geological facts
The green color is derived from glauconite, an iron-potassium phyllosilicate mineral. The region mentioned (Gomel, Belarus) is part of the Pripyat Trough and Dnieper-Donets Basin, where such sedimentary deposits from the Mesozoic-Cenozoic era are common.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its characteristic dull olive or grayish-green hue and relatively soft, fine-grained surface. In Belarus, these are often found in riverbeds or gravel pits after being transported by glacial or fluvial action.
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