metamorphic
Greenstone
Metabasalt
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, typically olive-green to dark green in color with a dull to sub-greasy luster. It features a dense, fine-grained microcrystalline structure without prominent cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 5 to 6 on the Mohs scale, typically olive-green to dark green in color with a dull to sub-greasy luster. It features a dense, fine-grained microcrystalline structure without prominent cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the low-grade regional metamorphism of mafic igneous rocks like basalt, typically in ancient submarine environments over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used historically for prehistoric stone axes and tools, and occasionally as an ornamental landscape or decorative stone.
Geological facts
The green color is characteristic and caused by secondary minerals like chlorite, epidote, and actinolite replacing the original pyroxenes and plagioclase.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its distinct greenish hue and dense, weathered, rounded pebble form often found in glacial till and riverbeds.
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