Hornblende, a type of amphibole
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Amphibole
There are several different minerals within the amphibole group, but the most common type is hornblende. You can find small crystals of hornblende in many types of igneous rocks. They often look like little dark specks. Use your hand lens or magnifying glass to see the crystal shapes.
Hornblende
- Shape: Monoclinic (crystals look like short, six-sided columns)
- Luster: Glassy or milky
- Color: Black or dark green, translucent to opaque
- Streak: Grey-green or grey-brown
- Hardness: 5-6 on Mohs Hardness Scale
- Cleavage: Two planes that meet at a 124-degree angle
- Fracture: Uneven brittle fracture
Last modified April 16, 2003 by Lisa Gardiner.
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