metamorphic
Quartzite
Quartzite (mainly Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White, grey, or yellow/brown due to impurities; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular); Fracture: Conchoidal or irregular; Specific gravity: approx. 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White, grey, or yellow/brown due to impurities
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White, grey, or yellow/brown due to impurities; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular); Fracture: Conchoidal or irregular; Specific gravity: approx. 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism (heat and pressure) of quartz-rich sandstone. It is most commonly found in mountain belts formed during orogenic events.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative stone in architecture (tiles, countertops, flooring) and as crushed stone for road construction and railway ballast.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it will scratch glass and steel. It is more resistant to weathering than the sandstone it originated from, often resulting in ridges and mountain peaks.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its sugary, granular texture and its inability to be scratched by a steel nail. Common in ancient metamorphic shields and tectonic collision zones.
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