metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite
Quartzite (SiO2 with iron oxide inclusions)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, honey-toned, or orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.6 - 2.8
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Yellow, honey-toned, or orange
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
Identified More metamorphic →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Yellow, honey-toned, or orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None; Specific gravity: 2.6 - 2.8
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, typically in orogenic belts. The yellow color is usually caused by iron oxide (limonite or goethite) staining within the matrix.
Uses & applications
Used for architectural stone, decorative gravel, jewelry (especially tumbled stones), and historical stone tool making.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often survives intense weathering better than the mountains it forms; it breaks through the quartz grains rather than around them, distinguishing it from sandstone.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its grainy, sugary texture under a lens. Common in quartz-rich mountain ranges and riverbeds globally.
More like this
