metamorphic
Quartzite
Meta-sandstone (mostly SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: tan to white with sugary texture; Luster: vitrous to dull; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline/interlocking); Cleavage: none; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- tan to white with sugary texture
- Luster
- vitrous to dull
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: tan to white with sugary texture; Luster: vitrous to dull; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline/interlocking); Cleavage: none; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz-rich sandstone is subjected to heat, pressure, and chemical activity of metamorphism, leading to the recrystallization of sand grains.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone in landscaping, road ballast, railway tracks, and historically for making stone tools due to its hardness.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it usually breaks through the quartz grains rather than around them, unlike sandstone. It is highly resistant to chemical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel, its sugary texture, and its lack of reaction to acid. Commonly found in folded mountain ranges.
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