metamorphic
Pink Quartzite (Water-worn)
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, white, and tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull when unpolished; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6 - 2.7.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, white, and tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull when unpolished
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, white, and tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull when unpolished; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6 - 2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, causing quartz grains to recrystallize and fuse together. This specimen shows a smooth, rounded texture typical of river-bed or beach erosion (water-worn pebble).
Uses & applications
Commonly used as crushed stone in construction, road ballast, and as decorative landscaping stones. Higher quality varieties are used for architectural cladding and occasionally for lapidary art.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that when it breaks, it fractures through the quartz grains rather than along the boundaries between them, unlike its parent rock, sandstone. The pink coloration is usually due to small amounts of iron oxide (hematite) present during formation.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel knife) and its grainy but fused texture. Commonly found in glaciated regions, riverbeds, and ancient mountain belts like the Appalachians or the Canadian Shield.
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