Harzburgite

A slice of the upper mantle

Harzburgite, an igneous rock specimen
Igneous

Harzburgite is an ultramafic rock composed primarily of olivine and orthopyroxene, representing depleted mantle material from which basaltic magma has already been extracted. It's one of the most common rock types in Earth's upper mantle and frequently appears at the surface in ophiolite complexes.

Composition

olivine, orthopyroxene (enstatite), chromite (accessory), spinel

Where Found

Harz Mountains (Germany), Oman Ophiolite, Troodos (Cyprus), Bay of Islands (Newfoundland), Papua New Guinea

Mohs Hardness

6-6.5

Fun Fact

The enormous Samail Ophiolite in Oman contains vast exposures of harzburgite — it's the largest and best-exposed piece of oceanic mantle on Earth's surface.

Test Your Knowledge

What does harzburgite's mineral composition tell geologists about its history?

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