metamorphic
Red Quartzite
SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide with iron oxide impurities)
Mohs hardness: 7; Color: reddish-brown to maroon; Luster: dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: trigonal (granular texture); Cleavage: none; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7
- Color
- reddish-brown to maroon
- Luster
- dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness: 7; Color: reddish-brown to maroon; Luster: dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: trigonal (granular texture); Cleavage: none; Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure. The red color is typically due to the presence of hematite or other iron oxides within the matrix.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone, construction aggregate, ballast for railways, and occasionally in lapidary for tumbled stones or cabochons.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so durable that it can outlive the mountains it helps form, often left behind as resistant ridges after softer rocks erode away.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its ability to scratch glass and its grainy, sandpaper-like surface that doesn't rub off. Commonly found in glaciated regions or ancient mountain belts.
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