Key to Common Metamorphic Rocks

Translucent Fused
pale colors quartz QUARTZITE
grains
(Granular)

Scratch Glass
Dark, dull, Dense,
compact
opaque conchoidal HORNFELS
colors; fracture

Schistose; quartz/ Garnet, staurolite,

feldspar/mica kyanite,
completely sillimanite SCHIST
Crs. grained; intermixed may be present
schistose or
banded Banded into light
(quartz/feldspar)
& dark (biotite/ GNEISS
amphibole)layers

Gray, black, green

red; dull luster; Slatey cleavage 1
often rings into smooth SLATE
Fine grained; when struck flat sheets
slatey
cleavage Green; Slatey cleavage
shiny luster; to weak 1
crystals may schistosity; 2 PHYLLITE
be visible may be folded

Softer Than Glass

Reacts
without Limestone
Reacts with powdering MARBLE
dilute
hydrochloric
acid Must be
powdered Dolomitic
to react MARBLE

Softer than Slippery feel; 2

fingernail mostly talc SOAPSTONE
No dilute
hydrochloric
acid
reaction Harder than Greasy feel; SERPEN-
fingernail green, yellow, TINITE
black

1 (Shale), slate, and phyllite complete intergrade with each other. Distinctions may be difficult.
2 Soapstone may be weakly foliated.