metamorphic
Mica Schist (Greenschist / Chlorite Schist)
Schist (rich in Muscovite, Chlorite, and Quartz)
Hardness: 2.5-4 on the Mohs scale; Color: Silvery-green to pale olive-green with pearly highlights; Luster: Pearly, satiny to sub-metallic; Texture: Medium to coarse-grained with strong schistose foliation; Cleavage: Perfect basal cleavage in individual mica flakes.
- Hardness
- 2
- Color
- Silvery-green to pale olive-green with pearly highlights
- Luster
- Pearly, satiny to sub-metallic
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 2.5-4 on the Mohs scale; Color: Silvery-green to pale olive-green with pearly highlights; Luster: Pearly, satiny to sub-metallic; Texture: Medium to coarse-grained with strong schistose foliation; Cleavage: Perfect basal cleavage in individual mica flakes.
Formation & geological history
Formed via regional metamorphism of shale, mudstone, or mafic igneous rocks under intermediate temperatures and pressures. Commonly associated with mountain-building (orogenic) events.
Uses & applications
Used occasionally as decorative landscaping stone, dimensional flagstone, crushed aggregate, and as educational/collector mineral specimens.
Geological facts
The distinct silvery-green sheen comes from aligned platy mica (muscovite) and chlorite minerals. Schist is known for easily flaking along its layered planes of foliation.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its pronounced foliation, silvery-green metallic sheen, and flaky, layered surface. Widely found in metamorphic terranes like the Appalachian Mountains, Alps, and Scottish Highlands.
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