metamorphic
Pink Quartzite
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish, or light purple; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Grainy, sugary texture; Very durable and resistant to weathering.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, reddish, or light purple
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish, or light purple; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Grainy, sugary texture; Very durable and resistant to weathering.
Formation & geological history
Quartzite is a non-foliated metamorphic rock that forms when quartz-rich sandstone is subjected to high heat and pressure, causing the original quartz grains to recrystallize and fuse together. The pink color is often caused by trace amounts of hematite or iron oxides.
Uses & applications
Used as a construction aggregate, for road ballast, as a decorative stone in landscaping, and sometimes in glass manufacturing or as a building stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and dense that when broken, it fractures through the individual sand grains rather than around them, which distinguishes it from sandstone. Many pink quartzites are extremely ancient, dating back to the Proterozoic Eon.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (it can scratch glass), its lack of reaction to acid (unlike limestone), and its grainy but fused appearance. Commonly found along ancient mountain belts where tectonic activity was high.
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