metamorphic
Quartzite with Quartz Veining
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Purple-brown/maroon matrix with white veins; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal crystals within a granular matrix; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Purple-brown/maroon matrix with white veins
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Purple-brown/maroon matrix with white veins; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal crystals within a granular matrix; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the high-pressure, high-temperature metamorphism of quartz sandstone. The white lines are secondary quartz veins formed when hydrothermal fluids filled fractures in the parent rock during tectonic activity.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction as crushed stone, railway ballast, or decorative landscaping stones. Highly durable for outdoor architecture.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard it will scratch glass and even steel. It is frequently confused with marble, but unlike marble, it does not react with acid.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its grainy, sandpaper-like texture combined with extreme hardness and the presence of angular quartz veins. Common in mountainous regions with a history of tectonic compression.
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