GNEISS
Gneiss is a common high-grade, foliated metamorphic
rock characterized by alternating bands of light- and dark-colored
minerals. It forms by metamorphism of schists or felsic-to-intermediate
intrusive igneous rocks (e.g., granite).
Venetian Gold Granite - a late Neoproterozoic to Cambrian-aged
garnetiferous gneiss from Brazil. It's quarried at Nova Venecia, in
Espirito Santo State, coastal southeastern Brazil. Metamorphism occurred
at ~650-500 million years ago. It contains quartz, feldspar, mafic
minerals, and very dark red garnets.
Verde Lavras Granite - a Paleoproterozoic (1.9 billion years) orthogneiss
(metamonzogranite) from Lavras in Minas Gerais State, southeastern
Brazil. The gneissic foliation is on a coarse scale, but is still
recognizable (see elongated, large, greenish-gray feldspars & the
elongated, irregularly wavy, black mafic areas). This rock has
plagioclase feldspar, quartz, perthitic microcline feldspar, hornblende
amphibole, and biotite mica.
River Green Granite - a colorful garnetiferous gneiss with greenish
quartz, spots of reddish garnets, and blackish-colored streaks of
ferromagnesian minerals. Undetermined provenance & age.