igneous
Basalt with Epidote (Flowerstone-like texture)
Amygdaloidal Basalt (silicate mineral inclusions)
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Dark grey to black matrix with pistachio-green inclusions (Epidote); Luster: Dull to waxy; Texture: Fine-grained aphanitic matrix.
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs)
- Luster
- Dull to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Dark grey to black matrix with pistachio-green inclusions (Epidote); Luster: Dull to waxy; Texture: Fine-grained aphanitic matrix.
Formation & geological history
Formed from rapidly cooling basaltic lava. The green inclusions (epidote) are secondary minerals that filled vesicles (gas bubbles) through hydrothermal alteration over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as decorative garden stones, in lapidary work for cabochons, and as a collector's specimen for those interested in volcanic geology.
Geological facts
In the Pacific Northwest, rocks with these distinct green clusters in a dark matrix are often colloquially referred to as 'Flowerstones'. They represent the ancient volcanic history of the oceanic crust.
Field identification & locations
Identify by the high density and the distinct contrast between the dark basaltic background and the lime-green mineral patches. Often found on cobble beaches in volcanic regions.
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