Know all about Gneiss and Novaculite properties here. All properties of rocks are important as they define the type of rock and its application. Gneiss belongs to Metamorphic Rocks while Novaculite belongs to Sedimentary Rocks.Texture of Gneiss is Banded, Foliated, Platy whereas that of Novaculite is Banded, Glassy, Rough, Vitreous. Gneiss appears Foliated and Novaculite appears Glassy or Pearly. The luster of Gneiss is dull while that of Novaculite is waxy and dull. Gneiss is available in black, brown, pink, red, white colors whereas Novaculite is available in black, brown, green, grey, red, white colors. The commercial uses of Gneiss are cemetery markers, jewelry, tombstones, used in aquariums and that of Novaculite are cemetery markers, gemstone, in aquifers, in fire-starting tools, jewelry, manufacture of tools, pebbles are used in ball mills to grind in ceramics industry, to determine the gold content of jewelry.