metamorphic
Quartzite with Quartz Veining
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Brownish-grey matrix with white veins; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Macrocrystalline/Granular; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs
- Color
- Brownish-grey matrix with white veins
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: Brownish-grey matrix with white veins; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Macrocrystalline/Granular; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, causing recrystallization. The white veins are secondary hydrothermal quartz deposits filling fractures in the host rock.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction as road ballast, gravel, or stone cladding. High-purity quartzite is used in the glass and chemical industries.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding rock layers, creating ridges or mountains. It is harder than steel, meaning it will easily scratch a knife blade.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness and grainy, sugary texture on fresh breaks. It is commonly found in ancient mountain belts and as rounded river stones or glacial till.
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