metamorphic
Quartzite Pebbles
Crystalline silica rock (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to off-white/light tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull when water-worn; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); specific gravity: 2.6 – 2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- white to off-white/light tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull when water-worn
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to off-white/light tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull when water-worn; Crystal Structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); specific gravity: 2.6 – 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, often found as water-worn river or beach pebbles that have been rounded by mechanical erosion.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, construction as a decorative aggregate, abrasives, and as a raw material for glass manufacturing and silicon chemical industries.
Geological facts
Quartzite is one of the most physically durable and chemically resistant rocks found on the Earth's surface. A broken piece of quartzite akan split through the quartz grains rather than around them.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel and its grainy, sugary texture. Often found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and beaches.
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