Pink Quartzite

Physical Properties

Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink to reddish-pink due to hematite or iron oxides; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (granular texture); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6 - 2.7

Formation & Geological History

Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. High heat and pressure cause the individual sand grains to recrystallize and fuse together into a dense, crystalline rock. It is typically found in mountain belts formed through plate collisions.

Uses & Applications

Used primarily as crushed stone for road construction and railway ballast. Due to its aesthetic pink color, it is also used for building facades, decorative garden stones, floor tiles, and occasionally as a low-cost gemstone for lapidary work.

Geological Facts

Quartzite is so hard and durable that if you hit it with a rock hammer, it will typically fracture through the quartz grains rather than along the boundaries between them, unlike its parent rock sandstone.

Field Identification & Locations

Identify in the field by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel knife) and its sugary, granular look under a hand lens. Commonly found in ancient mountain ranges such as the Blue Ridge or the Baraboo Range.

Identified on: 4/29/2026

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