metamorphic
Quartzite
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to grey with light brown iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular, crystalline; Cleavage: None, breaks with a conchoidal or irregular fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White to grey with light brown iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to grey with light brown iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular, crystalline; Cleavage: None, breaks with a conchoidal or irregular fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. High heat and pressure cause the original quartz grains to recrystallize and fuse together, creating a very hard, dense rock.
Uses & applications
Used as crushed stone for road construction, railway ballast, and in the manufacturing of glass and ceramics. Polished pieces are used for decorative purposes and occasionally in minor jewelry or as countertops.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms the ridges and peaks of mountain ranges because it resists erosion much better than the rocks surrounding it.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel blade and its granular, sugary appearance. It is commonly found in fold mountain belts globally.
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