![Quartz with Epidote (Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Calcium Aluminum Iron Silicate [Ca2(Al,Fe)3(SiO4)3(OH)]) — metamorphic](https://media.rock.id/quartz-with-epidote-366c15d9-8f16-4749-8604-ac6bc067efb3-compressed.jpg)
metamorphic
Quartz with Epidote
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Calcium Aluminum Iron Silicate [Ca2(Al,Fe)3(SiO4)3(OH)]
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white (quartz) and olive-to-pistachio green (epidote); Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Crystalline yet water-worn (rounded) with a distinctive color banding.
- Hardness
- 6-7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Milky white (quartz) and olive-to-pistachio green (epidote)
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white (quartz) and olive-to-pistachio green (epidote); Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Crystalline yet water-worn (rounded) with a distinctive color banding.
Formation & geological history
Formed through regional or contact metamorphism of igneous rocks. The quartz likely filled hydrothermal veins, while the green epidote formed via the alteration of plagioclase feldspars and pyroxene. This specimen appears water-worn, suggesting a river or beach origin.
Uses & applications
Primarily for mineral collecting, lapidary work (cabochons), and as a decorative garden or aquarium stone.
Geological facts
Epidote gets its name from the Greek word 'epidosis', meaning 'addition', referring to one side of the prism being longer than the others. The green color is a key indicator of low-to-medium grade metamorphic facies.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its 'unakite-like' green and white coloration and high hardness (will scratch glass). Commonly found in areas with high metamorphic activity like the Appalachian Mountains or glacial till in the Great Lakes region.
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