metamorphic
Greenschist / Basalt Beach Pebble
Metabasalt / Chlorite Schist
Hardness: 5-6 Mohs. Color: Dark grayish-green to dusky olive green. Luster: Dull to waxy. Texture: Fine-grained, stream or beach-rounded pebble with a slightly pitted surface. Specific gravity: 2.8 - 3.0.
- Hardness
- 5-6 Mohs
- Color
- Dark grayish-green to dusky olive green
- Luster
- Dull to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 5-6 Mohs. Color: Dark grayish-green to dusky olive green. Luster: Dull to waxy. Texture: Fine-grained, stream or beach-rounded pebble with a slightly pitted surface. Specific gravity: 2.8 - 3.0.
Formation & geological history
Formed through low-grade regional metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks (such as basalt) under low temperatures and pressures. Chlorite, actinolite, and epidote minerals impart its characteristic greenish hue.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as aggregate, landscape river rocks, decorative beach pebbles, and educational specimens for geology study.
Geological facts
Greenschist gets its name from its greenish appearance caused by minerals like chlorite, epidote, and actinolite. Ocean and river erosion polish these stones into smooth, flattened pebbles over hundreds to thousands of years.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its muted green color, fine-grained texture, and smooth rounded pebble form from aquatic erosion. Commonly found along riverbeds, glaciated regions, and coastal beaches near metamorphic terrains.
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