metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite (River Pebble)
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to honey-orange due to iron oxide staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granitoid/Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Yellow to honey-orange due to iron oxide staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow to honey-orange due to iron oxide staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granitoid/Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specific rounded specimen was subsequently weathered and smoothed by water transport in a river or coastal environment.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in landscaping (river rock), construction aggregate, and occasionally tumbled for lapidary work or aquarium decor.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it will scratch glass and steel easily. The yellow coloring is usually caused by fine inclusions of limonite or goethite that have leached into the stone over geological time.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness and sugary, crystalline texture when broken. It differs from sandstone because it breaks through the quartz grains rather than around them. Found globally in ancient mountain belts and riverbeds.
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