igneous
Peridotite
Ultramafic igneous rock
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 6-7, dark green to grayish-black color, dull to vitreous luster, composed mainly of olivine and pyroxene.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 6-7, dark green to grayish-black color, dull to vitreous luster, composed mainly of olivine and pyroxene.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the slow cooling of magma deep within the Earth's mantle, representing the primary mantle composition.
Uses & applications
Used as a source specimen for olivine and gemstone-grade peridot, and in geological research regarding the Earth's mantle.
Geological facts
Peridotite is the most abundant rock type in the Earth's upper mantle and can metamorphose into serpentinite in the presence of water.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its dark, coarse-grained, heavy texture dominated by green olivine crystals, often found in ophiolite sequences and kimberlite pipes.
