Quartzite Pebbler

Physical Properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: tan, yellow, and reddish-brown, Luster: vitreous to waxy, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: none, Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7

Formation & Geological History

Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. Under intense heat and pressure, original quartz grains recrystallize and fuse together. This specimen appears water-worn, likely from a riverbed or coastal environment.

Uses & Applications

Used in construction as crushed stone, in glassmaking depending on purity, and as decorative gravel. Polished specimens are used in lapidary art.

Geological Facts

Quartzite is so durable that it often remains as resistant ridges or peaks long after surrounding softer rocks have eroded away. It is often harder than the steel of a pocketknife.

Field Identification & Locations

Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and its granular, sugary texture on fresh surfaces. Often found as rounded pebbles in fluvial deposits or glacial till.

Identified on: 4/22/2026

Mode: Standard