metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite (River Pebble)
Quartzite (mainly SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to light orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granitoid/Massive; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pale yellow to light orange
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pale yellow to light orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Granitoid/Massive; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, typically in orogenic belts. This specific specimen has been rounded by fluvial (river) erosion.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction as crushed stone, in landscaping, as a source for silica in glassmaking, and occasionally as decorative river stones.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the mountain ranges in which it formed. When it breaks, it fractures through the quartz grains, unlike sandstone which fractures around them.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (it will easily scratch glass) and lack of reaction to acid. Often found in riverbeds or glacial deposits globally. This specimen shows characteristic water-worn smoothing.
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