Felsocsatar Greenschist (Hungary)

Felsőcsatár Greenschist Specimen – Felsőcsatár, Vas County, Hungary

This striking greenschist specimen comes from the classic Zöldpala-bánya (“Greenschist Mine”) near Felsőcsatár, Western Hungary—one of Central Europe’s best-known localities for low-grade metamorphic rocks.

This substantial specimen is an excellent example of Greenschist, a low-grade metamorphic rock collected by Frugeo from the geologically significant region of Felsőcsatár, Hungary. It is characterised by a dark, mottled grey to black matrix, displaying the typical foliated or schistose texture resulting from directed pressure during its formation. The rock's original composition was likely basaltic or gabbroic, and its current mineralogy, common to the greenschist facies, includes minerals like chlorite, actinolite, and epidote. While the green chlorite hue is less prominent on the weathered surface, the presence of iron-bearing minerals is highlighted by striking patches of reddish-brown oxidation scattered across the specimen, offering a beautiful colour contrast and demonstrating the rock's chemical history.

Greenschist forms under relatively low metamorphic temperatures ($300°\text{C}$ to $500°\text{C}$), representing a key stage in the transformation of mafic igneous rocks. This specific piece, sourced from the complex geology of the Pannonian Basin, holds significant educational and collector value, as it provides a tangible link to the regional tectonic and metamorphic history. It is an ideal, robust piece for geological collections, educational displays, or for anyone interested in understanding the metamorphic cycle.

Origin: Felsőcsatár (Zöldpala Mine), Vas County, Hungary
Rock type: Greenschist (Zöldpala)
Size: ~12(L) x 8(H) x 2(W) cm (see scale cube), 263 g