metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Grayish-tan to light green; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Grayish-tan to light green
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Grayish-tan to light green; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Trigonal/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, typically during mountain-building events. This specimen has been rounded by fluvial or glacial transport.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as construction aggregate, railway ballast, and in some cases, as decorative landscape stone or primitive tools.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the mountain ranges it was formed in, remaining as resistant pebbles in riverbeds and beaches for millions of years.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its grainy, sugary texture under a lens. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and ancient mountain belts.
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