Blueschist
A rock subtype
This page is currently not sponsored. Click here to sponsor this page.
About Blueschist
A schist whose bluish colour is due to the presence of alkali amphibole (often glaucophane, but also riebeckite or other amphiboles in the Sodium Amphibole Subgroup.
Blueschists are generally high-pressure, relatively low-temperature metamorphic rocks. They may form when ocean-floor basalts are subducted and subjected to a high-pressure-low-temperature regime.
Blueschists are generally high-pressure, relatively low-temperature metamorphic rocks. They may form when ocean-floor basalts are subducted and subjected to a high-pressure-low-temperature regime.
Unique Identifiers
Mindat ID:
48737
Long-form identifier:
mindat:1:1:48737:5
Classification of Blueschist
- Rock
- Metamorphic rock
- High-grade metamorphic rock
- High P/T metamorphic rock
- Blueschist
- High P/T metamorphic rock
- Schist
- Blueschist
- High-grade metamorphic rock
- Metamorphic rock
Sub-divisions of Blueschist
Mineralogy of Blueschist
Essential minerals - these are minerals that are required within the classification of this rock:
| Sodium Amphibole Subgroup | A0-1Na2(C2+2-4C3+1-2Li0-1)Σ5(Si8-mAlmO22)(OH,F,Cl)2 |
Non-essential minerals - these minerals are common, sometimes major components, but are not always present:
| Amphibole > Glaucophane | ◻Na2(Mg3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| Ferro-glaucophane | ◻Na2(Fe2+3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2 |
Pronunciation of Blueschist
Pronunciation:
| Play | Recorded by | Country |
|---|---|---|
| Jolyon Ralph | United Kingdom |
Other Language Names for Blueschist
German:Blauschiefer
Common Associates
Associations Based on Photo Data:
| 24 photos of Blueschist associated with Glaucophane | ◻Na2(Mg3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| 22 photos of Blueschist associated with Epidote | (CaCa)(AlAlFe3+)O[Si2O7][SiO4](OH) |
| 20 photos of Blueschist associated with 'Epidote-glaucophane schist' | |
| 16 photos of Blueschist associated with Ferro-glaucophane | ◻Na2(Fe2+3Al2)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| 14 photos of Blueschist associated with Muscovite | KAl2(AlSi3O10)(OH)2 |
| 6 photos of Blueschist associated with 'Glaucophane schist' | |
| 5 photos of Blueschist associated with Native Copper | Cu |
| 5 photos of Blueschist associated with Actinolite | ◻Ca2(Mg4.5-2.5Fe0.5-2.5)Si8O22(OH)2 |
| 4 photos of Blueschist associated with Garnet Group | X3Z2(SiO4)3 |
| 1 photo of Blueschist associated with Amphibole Supergroup | AB2C5(T8O22)W2 |
Internet Links for Blueschist
mindat.org URL:
https://www.mindat.org/min-48737.html
Please feel free to link to this page.
Please feel free to link to this page.
References for Blueschist
Reference List:
Himmelberg, G. R., Papike, J. J. (1969) Coexisting amphiboles from blueschist facies metamorphic rocks. Journal of Petrology, 10 (1) 102-114 doi:10.1093/petrology/10.1.102
Van Bemmelen, R.W. (1974) Driving forces of orogeny, with emphasis on blue-schist facies of metamorphism (test-case III: The Japan arc). Tectonophysics, 22 (1-2). 83-125 doi:10.1016/0040-1951(74)90036-5
NAGLE, FREDERICK (1974) Blueschist, Eclogite, Paired Metamorphic Belts, and the Early Tectonic History of Hispaniola. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 85 (9) 1461 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1974)85<1461:bepmba>2.0.co;2
PLATT, JEREMY B., LIOU, J. G., PAGE, BEN M. (1976) Franciscan blueschist-facies metaconglomerate, Diablo Range, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 87 (4) 581 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1976)87<581:fbmdrc>2.0.co;2
Black, P. M., Brothers, R. N. (1977) Blueschist ophiolites in the melange zone, northern New Caledonia. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 65 (1) 69-78 doi:10.1007/bf00373572
PLATT, JEREMY B., LIOU, J. G., PAGE, BEN M. (1977) Franciscan blueschist-facies metaconglomerates, Diablo Range, California: Discussion and reply. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 88 (3) 480 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1977)88<480b:fbmdrc>2.0.co;2
BLOXAM, T. W. (1977) Franciscan blueschist-facies metaconglomerates, Diablo Range, California: Discussion and reply. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 88 (3) 480 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1977)88<480a:fbmdrc>2.0.co;2
COWAN, DARREL S. (1978) Origin of blueschist-bearing chaotic rocks in the Franciscan Complex, San Simeon, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 89 (9) 1415 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1978)89<1415:oobcri>2.0.co;2
Moore, Diane E., Liou, J. G. (1979) Mineral chemistry of some Franciscan blueschist facies metasedimentary rocks from the Diablo Range, California. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 90 (12) 1737-1781 doi:10.1130/gsab-p2-90-1737
GRAY, J. R., YARDLEY, B. W. D. (1979) A Caledonian blueschist from the Irish Dalradian. Nature, 278 (5706). 736-737 doi:10.1038/278736a0
MOORE, DIANE E., LIOU, J. G. (1979) Mineral chemistry of some Franciscan blueschist facies metasedimentary rocks from the Diablo Range, California: Summary. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 90 (12) 1089 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1979)90<1089:mcosfb>2.0.co;2
Wood, R. M. (1979) A re-evaluation of the blueschist facies. Part 2. The role of the mineral in metamorphism. Geological Magazine, 116 (3). 191-201 doi:10.1017/s0016756800043600
Wood, R. M. (1979) A re-evaluation of the blueschist facies. Geological Magazine, 116 (1) 21-33 doi:10.1017/s0016756800041972
Muir Wood, Robert (1980) Compositional zoning in sodic amphiboles from the blueschist facies. Mineralogical Magazine, 43 (330) 741-752 doi:10.1180/minmag.1980.043.330.07
BLAKE, M. C., BONNEAU, MICHEL, GEYSSANT, JACQUES, KIENAST, J. R., LEPVRIER, CLAUDE, MALUSKI, HENRI, PAPANIKOLAOU, DIMITRIOS (1981) A geologic reconnaissance of the Cycladic blueschist belt, Greece. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 92 (5) 247 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1981)92<247:agrotc>2.0.co;2
Okay, A. I. (1982) Incipient blueschist metamorphism and metasomatism in the Tavşanli region, Northwest Turkey. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 79 (4). 361-367 doi:10.1007/bf01132065
Muir Wood, Robert (1982) The Laytonville Quarry (Mendocino County California) exotic block: iron-rich blueschist-facies subduction-zone metamorphism. Mineralogical Magazine, 45 (337) 87-99 doi:10.1180/minmag.1982.045.337.10
Dungan, M. A., Vance, J. A., Blanchard, D. P. (1983) Geochemistry of the Shuksan greenschists and blueschists, North Cascades, Washington: Variably fractionated and altered metabasalts of oceanic affinity. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 82 (2) 131-146 doi:10.1007/bf01166608
RODGERS, JOHN (1984) A geologic reconnaissance of the Cycladic blueschist belt, Greece: Discussion and reply. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 95 (1) 117 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1984)95<117:agrotc>2.0.co;2
BLAKE, M. C., BONNEAU, MICHEL, GEYSSANT, JACQUES, KIENAST, J. R., LEPVRIER, CLAUDE, MALUSKI, HENRI, PAPANIKOLAOU, DIMITRIOS (1984) A geologic reconnaissance of the Cycladic blueschist belt, Greece: Discussion and reply. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 95 (1) 119 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1984)95<119:agrotc>2.0.co;2
Matthews, Alan, Schliestedt, Manfred (1984) Evolution of the blueschist and greenschist facies rocks of Sifnos, Cyclades, Greece. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 88 (1) 150-163 doi:10.1007/bf00371419
Okay, A. I. (1984) Distribution and characteristics of the north-west Turkish blueschists. Geological Society, London, Special Publications, 17 (1). p.455-466. doi:10.1144/gsl.sp.1984.017.01.33
THURSTON, STEPHEN POLLOCK (1985) Structure, petrology, and metamorphic history of the Nome Group blueschist terrane, Salmon Lake area, Seward Peninsula, Alaska. Geological Society of America Bulletin, 96 (5) 600 doi:10.1130/0016-7606(1985)96<600:spamho>2.0.co;2
WINTSCH, SUSAN (1986) The blueschist enigma. Geology Today, 2 (2) 52-54 doi:10.1111/j.1365-2451.1986.tb01018.x
Horak, J. M., Gibbons, W. (1986) Reclassification of blueschist amphiboles from Anglesey, North Wales. Mineralogical Magazine, 50 (357) 533-535 doi:10.1180/minmag.1986.050.357.18
Mottana, Annibale (1986) GSA Memoir (164), Blueschist-Facies Metamorphism of Manganiferous Cherts: A Review of the Alpine Occurrences. Geological Society of America p.267-300. doi:10.1130/mem164-p267
Gibbons, Wes; Waters, Colin; Warburton, John (1986) The blueschist facies schistes lustrés of Alpine Corsica: A review. In Geological Society of America Memoirs No. 164. Geological Society of America. p.301-312. doi:10.1130/mem164-p301
Warburton, John (1986) The ophiolite-bearing Schistes lustrés nappe in Alpine Corsica: A model for the emplacement of ophiolites that have suffered HP/LT metamorphism. In Geological Society of America Memoirs No. 164. Geological Society of America. p.313-332. doi:10.1130/mem164-p313
Jayko, A. S.; Blake, M. C.; Brothers, R. N. (1986) Blueschist metamorphism of the Eastern Franciscan belt, northern California. In Geological Society of America Memoirs No. 164. Geological Society of America. p.107-124. doi:10.1130/mem164-p107
Caron, Jean-Michel, Péquignot, Guy (1986) The transition between blueschists and lawsonite-bearing eclogites based on observations from Corsican metabasalts. Lithos, 19 (3) 205-218 doi:10.1016/0024-4937(86)90023-x
Cotkin, Spencer J. (1987) Conditions of metamorphism in an early Paleozoic blueschist, schist of Skookum Gulch, northern California. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 96 (2) 192-200 doi:10.1007/bf00375233
Okay, A I (1989) Alpine-Himalayan Blueschists. Annual Review of Earth and Planetary Sciences, 17. 55-87 doi:10.1146/annurev.ea.17.050189.000415
Smelik, Eugene A., Veblen, David R. (1989) A five-amphibole assemblage from blueschists in northern Vermont. American Mineralogist, 74 (7-8) 960-964
Barr, Hazel (1990) Preliminary fluid inclusion studies in a high-grade blueschist terrain, Syros, Greece. Mineralogical Magazine, 54 (375) 159-168 doi:10.1180/minmag.1990.054.375.03
Evans, Bernard W. (1990) Phase relations of epidote-blueschists. Lithos, 25 (1) 3-23 doi:10.1016/0024-4937(90)90003-j
Wijbrans, Jan R.; Schliestedt, Manfred; York, Derek (1990) Single grain argon laser probe dating of phengites from the blueschist to greenschist transition on Sifnos (Cyclades, Greece). Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 104 (5). 582-593 doi:10.1007/bf00306666
Shau, Yen-Hong, Feather, Melanie E., Essene, Eric J., Peacor, Donald R. (1991) Genesis and solvus relations of submicroscopically intergrown paragonite and phengite in a blueschist from northern California. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 106 (3) 367-378 doi:10.1007/bf00324564
Maekawa, Hliokazu, Shozul, Masaya, Ishll, Teruaki, Fryer, Patricia, Pearce, Jullan A. (1993) Blueschist metamorphism in an active subduction zone. Nature, 364 (6437). 520-523 doi:10.1038/364520a0
Baltatzis, Emmanuel (1996) Blueschist-to-Greenschist Transition and the P-T Path of Prasinites from the Lavrion Area, Greece. Mineralogical Magazine, 60 (401) 551-561 doi:10.1180/minmag.1996.060.401.02
Tsujimori, Tatsuki, Itaya, Tetsumaru (1999) Blueschist‐facies metamorphism during Paleozoic orogeny in southwestern Japan: Phengite K–Ar ages of blueschist‐facies tectonic blocks in a serpentinite melange beneath early Paleozoic Oeyama ophiolite. Island Arc, 8 (2). 190-205 doi:10.1046/j.1440-1738.1999.00231.x
Okay, A.I, Monod, O, Monié, P (2002) Triassic blueschists and eclogites from northwest Turkey: vestiges of the Paleo-Tethyan subduction. Lithos, 64 (3) 155-178 doi:10.1016/s0024-4937(02)00200-1
Okay, A. I. (2002) Jadeite-chloritoid-glaucophane-lawsonite blueschists in north-west Turkey: unusually high P/T ratios in continental crust. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 20 (8) 757-768 doi:10.1046/j.1525-1314.2002.00402.x
Spandler, Carl; Hermann, Jörg; Arculus, Richard; Mavrogenes, John (2003) Redistribution of trace elements during prograde metamorphism from lawsonite blueschist to eclogite facies; implications for deep subduction-zone processes. Contributions to Mineralogy and Petrology, 146 (2). 205-222 doi:10.1007/s00410-003-0495-5
ŽÁČKOVÁ, E., KONOPÁSEK, J., JEŘÁBEK, P., FINGER, F., KOŠLER, J. (2010) Early Carboniferous blueschist facies metamorphism in metapelites of the West Sudetes (Northern Saxothuringian Domain, Bohemian Massif) Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 28 (4) 361-379 doi:10.1111/j.1525-1314.2010.00869.x
BROVARONE, A. VITALE, GROPPO, C., HETÉNYI, G., COMPAGNONI, R., MALAVIEILLE, J. (2011) Coexistence of lawsonite-bearing eclogite and blueschist: phase equilibria modelling of Alpine Corsica metabasalts and petrological evolution of subducting slabs. Journal of Metamorphic Geology, 29 (5) 583-600 doi:10.1111/j.1525-1314.2011.00931.x
Localities for Blueschist
Showing 64 localities.
symbol to view information about a locality.
The Locality List
- This locality has map coordinates listed.
- This locality has estimated coordinates.
ⓘ - Click for references and further information on this occurrence.
? - Indicates mineral may be doubtful at this locality.
- Good crystals or important locality for species.
- World class for species or very significant.
(TL) - Type Locality for a valid mineral species.
(FRL) - First Recorded Locality for everything else (eg varieties).
All localities listed without proper references should be considered as questionable.
Antarctica | |
| Smellie et al. (1984, March) |
| Trouw et al. (2000) +1 other reference | |
Australia | |
| Och et al. (2003) |
Austria | |
| Bernroider et al. (2017) +1 other reference |
| Neubauer et al. (2017) |
Canada | |
| - (n.d.) |
Chile | |
| [Glaucophane schist] Massonne et al. (1998) |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2023) |
China | |
| - (n.d.) |
| Sun et al. (2025) |
| - (n.d.) |
| - (n.d.) |
| - (n.d.) |
| - (n.d.) |
| - (n.d.) |
Cuba | |
| Cárdenas-Párraga et al. (2010) |
Dominican Republic | |
| Hertwig A et al. (2014) |
Ecuador | |
| John et al. (2010) |
| Aspden et al. (1995) |
France | |
| [Glaucophane schist] Dauteuil et al. (1995) |
| [Epidote-glaucophane schist, Glaucophane schist] Audren et al. (1993) |
| Gibbons et al. (1986) |
| Godard et al. (2024) |
Greece | |
| Rice et al. (2012) |
| Korosidis et al. (2022, March) |
| Tsirigoti et al. (2025) |
| Wind et al. (2023) |
| [Glaucophane schist] Schumacher et al. (2008) |
Guatemala | |
| Harlow et al. (2011) |
| [Glaucophane schist] Li et al. (2023) | |
| Harlow (1994) +1 other reference | |
| Harlow et al. (2011) |
| Harlow et al. (2011) | |
Indonesia | |
| [Glaucophane schist] Idrus et al. (2017) |
Iran | |
| Rahmani et al. (2020) | |
Italy | |
| Lecacheur et al. (2024) |
| Sanità et al. (2024) |
Jamaica | |
| Abbott et al. (2008) |
Kyrgyzstan | |
| OROZBAEV et al. (2007) |
Norway | |
| Agard et al. (2005) |
Poland | |
| Wajsprych et al. (2010) |
Romania | |
| Hîrtopanu et al. (2003) | |
Slovakia | |
| [Glaucophane schist] Štubňa et al. (2019) |
Spain | |
| González-Jiménez et al. (2023) |
Turkey | |
| Turan et al. (2026) |
| Günay et al. (2016) |
| Kocatürk et al. (2025) | |
UK | |
| [Glaucophane schist] Stephenson et al. (1999) |
USA | |
| |
| [Glaucophane schist] - (2005) |
| [Glaucophane schist] Pemberton (1983) +1 other reference |
| Rowland (1984) |
| [Glaucophane schist] Switzer (1951) |
| Dunning G.E. et al. (2018) |
| Dunning G.E. et al. (2018) | |
| [Glaucophane schist] Louderback (1909) |
| [Glaucophane schist] - (2005) |
| [Glaucophane schist] - (2005) |
| [Glaucophane schist] - (2005) |
Porh Morvil creek, Primiture, Groix, Lorient, Morbihan, Brittany, France