metamorphic
Quartzite River Rock (with Quartz Vein)
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to reddish-brown with white veining; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal (crystalline quartz micro-structure); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Tan to reddish-brown with white veining
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to reddish-brown with white veining; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal (crystalline quartz micro-structure); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, typically during tectonic mountain-building events. This specific specimen has been further shaped into a 'river rock' through water erosion and transport.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone, in landscaping, as a glass-making raw material (high purity), and as decorative stones for gardening.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it will scratch glass and even steel tools. The white band visible in the specimen is a quartz vein, formed when silica-rich fluids filled a crack in the rock and crystallized.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness and sugary, crystalline texture when freshly broken. It can be found in riverbeds and mountainous regions globally where ancient coastal sands were buried and metamorphosed.
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