metamorphic

Green Quartzite / Aventurine

SiO2 (Metamorphosed Quartz Sandstone)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

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

Identified July 22, 2026More metamorphic →

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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.