metamorphic
Quartzite
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white to gray, often pink or reddish due to iron oxides; Luster: vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: hexagonal (as quartz grains); Cleavage: none, breaks with a conchoidal or irregular fracture; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: typically white to gray, often pink or reddish due to iron oxides; Luster: vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: hexagonal (as quartz grains); Cleavage: none, breaks with a conchoidal or irregular fracture; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone subjected to high heat and pressure, causing the original quartz grains to recrystallize and fuse together into a dense, hard mass.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction as crushed stone for road beds and railway ballast, as a decorative stone in countertops and wall cladding, and as a source of silica for glass manufacturing.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms prominent ridges and hills in mountain ranges. It is harder than a steel knife and will scratch glass easily.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its sugary texture on fresh surfaces and its inability to be scratched by a steel blade. It commonly occurs in metamorphic belts and can be found in mountain ranges globally.
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