metamorphic
Pink Quartzite
Quartzite (SiO2 with iron oxide impurities)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish-orange, tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6 - 2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, reddish-orange, tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish-orange, tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6 - 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. Under intense heat and pressure, quartz grains recrystallize and fuse together. The pink/red color is typically due to trace amounts of hematite or other iron oxides.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone in landscaping, crushed stone for road construction, railway ballast, and occasionally for interior surfaces like countertops or floor tiles.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that when it breaks, it fractures through the quartz grains rather than along the boundaries between them, unlike sandstone which breaks between the grains.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness (will scratch glass easily) and its sugary, crystalline texture. It is commonly found in mountain ranges where tectonic plates have collided, such as the Appalachian or Rocky Mountains.
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