metamorphic
Quartzite (River Pebble)
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale). Color: White to grayish-tan with iron staining. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.63 - 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- White to grayish-tan with iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
Identified More metamorphic →
Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale). Color: White to grayish-tan with iron staining. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.63 - 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure. This specific specimen has been further shaped into a smooth pebble by fluvial (river) or glacial transport erosion.
Uses & applications
Used as aggregate in construction, railway ballast, and road base. Polished stones are used in landscaping, floral arrangements, and as decorative pocket stones.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it can scratch glass and steel. It is one of the most durable rocks on Earth, which is why it often survives as smooth pebbles in riverbeds long after softer rocks have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness and sugary or crystalline appearance when freshly broken. Found globally in ancient mountain belts and river basins.
More like this
