metamorphic

Mica schist with garnet

Garnet–mica schist, chiefly muscovite/biotite mica, quartz, feldspar, and almandine garnet

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Typically has Mohs hardness 2–7 depending on mineral; silvery-gold flaky mica gives a pearly to vitreous luster, while the reddish-brown garnet is glassy. Strong foliation and visible garnet porphyroblasts are characteristic; garnet is commonly dodecahedral and lacks cleavage, whereas mica has perfect basal cleavage.

Identified August 19, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when shale or another clay-rich sediment was subjected to elevated temperature and pressure during regional metamorphism, commonly in mountain-building belts. Its metamorphic age depends on locality and may range from Precambrian to Phanerozoic.

Uses & applications

Used mainly as a decorative stone, educational specimen, and mineral-collection material; mica may have industrial uses, but foliated schist is generally unsuitable for structural construction.

Geological facts

The large blocky reddish-brown crystals are likely garnet, surrounded by reflective mica flakes. Garnet porphyroblasts can preserve inclusions that record the rock’s metamorphic history.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its glittering, layered foliation, easy splitting along mica planes, and hard garnet crystals that resist scratching. Common in regional metamorphic terrains such as the Appalachians, New England, Scandinavia, and the Alps.