metamorphic
Quartz with Mica / Chlorite Inclusion
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with Phyllosilicate minerals
Hardness: 7 (quartz matrix), Color: Milky white to light tan with greenish-grey metamorphic mineral bands, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Cleavage: None in quartz; perfect basal cleavage in mica layers, Specific Gravity: 2.65
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy, Cleavage: None in quartz
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Quartz with Mica / Chlorite Inclusion in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (quartz matrix), Color: Milky white to light tan with greenish-grey metamorphic mineral bands, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Cleavage: None in quartz; perfect basal cleavage in mica layers, Specific Gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed in metamorphic or hydrothermal environments where silica-rich fluids precipitated around preexisting metamorphic rock fragments or phyllosilicate minerals like chlorite and muscovite mica under heat and pressure.
Uses & applications
Used primarily for lapidary work, decorative rock collections, river pebble landscaping, and educational specimens.
Geological facts
Water-worn pebbles like this often originate from quartz veins that intruded into host metamorphic rocks such as schist or slate, which were later eroded and rounded by rivers or glacial movement.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass), waxy to glass-like lustre, and distinct dark chloritic/micaceous banding embedded in milky white quartz. Common in river beds, glacial tills, and mountainous regions worldwide.
More like this
