metamorphic
Orange Quartzite (Tumbled Beach Pebble)
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale orange to peach due to iron oxide impurities; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (especially when wet); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6 - 2.8.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pale orange to peach due to iron oxide impurities
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy (especially when wet)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale orange to peach due to iron oxide impurities; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (especially when wet); Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6 - 2.8.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure, causing quartz grains to recrystallize into a dense, interlocking mosaic. This specific piece has been naturally rounded and polished by high-energy wave action on a beach.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative landscaping stone, in aquarium decor, as a semi-precious gemstone for tumbling/jewelry, and historically as a sturdy material for stone tools or construction aggregate.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often survives long after the surrounding rock has weathered away. The orange hue is typically caused by minute inclusions of hematite or limonite within the quartz matrix.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (will easily scratch glass) and its sugary/granular texture visible under a hand lens. Commonly found on high-energy beaches, in riverbeds, or as erratic pebbles in glacial till. Unlike calcite, it will not fizz when exposed to acid.
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