metamorphic
Green Quartzite / Aventurine
SiO2 (Metamorphosed Quartz Sandstone)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale greenish to light greyish-green; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Microcrystalline, granular texture; Specific Gravity: 2.63 - 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pale greenish to light greyish-green
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale greenish to light greyish-green; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Microcrystalline, granular texture; Specific Gravity: 2.63 - 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz-rich sandstone undergoes intense heat and pressure during regional metamorphism. The greenish hue often comes from micro-inclusions of fuchsite (a chromium-rich mica) or epidote. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and beach deposits.
Uses & applications
Used in lapidary work, tumbled stones, ornamental carvings, landscape decor, and occasionally as decorative stone or crushed aggregate.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering. River-worn pebbles like this specimen often travel vast distances from their original mountain source rock, becoming smooth and rounded over thousands of years.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its pale green tone, smooth water-worn surface, granular sugary texture under magnification, and extreme hardness (scratches glass easily). Very common in beach pebble collections and gravel deposits worldwide.
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