metamorphic

Quartz-veined metamorphic rock

Likely quartz-veined schist or gneiss; exact identification requires closer examination

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Gray-green, foliated-looking matrix with a pale quartz-rich vein. Quartz has Mohs hardness 7 and a vitreous luster; the host rock’s hardness and minerals cannot be determined reliably from the image. Specific gravity is unknown.

Identified September 30, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Likely formed when an older rock was metamorphosed by heat and pressure, then fractured and filled by silica-rich fluid that crystallized as quartz. Its age and precise formation setting cannot be determined visually.

Uses & applications

Commonly collected as a field specimen; quartz-veined metamorphic rocks may also be used as decorative stone or aggregate, though this piece appears small and unworked.

Geological facts

The pale band is consistent with a quartz vein, formed when mineral-bearing fluids deposited quartz in a crack.

Field identification & locations

Look for planar mineral alignment or banding in the gray-green host and a harder, pale vein that scratches glass. Similar rocks occur in metamorphic belts worldwide; a fresh surface and hardness test would improve identification.