rodingite - black wall schist

[lithicbeads]

 Rodingites are a rare metamophic rock that is well known for hosting jade. I cut this pendant from  a piece of Washington rodingite that originally was a gabbro dike that intruded serpentine . The host serpentine was originally peridotite another very rare rock type.The dark serpentine has a touch of maroon in it and there are metal blebs in it that are  better seen in the second picture.The metal is likely chromite and /or magnetite.The white portion of the pendant is the reaction zone of the rodingite .It was originally the gabbro , a relatively mafic (dark ) rock.The  extreme alteration  it was subjected to when it was forced into the serpentine host rock has created the  hydrogrossular garnet (white ) groundmass which has grains of diopside , idocrase and prehnite in it. Normally the blackwall schist component is chlorite but in this case it was the serpentine.

[southerly]

Great looking stone, I like what you did with it too, very nice.
David

[lonelygems]

I really like that Frank........cool stuff

[ScarlettoSara]

Very cool Frank:)

[Helene]

Really love the contrast and the play of light and dark.  Unique piece.

[DonniesTreasures]

  That is a beauty!