metamorphic
Green Quartzite (Tumbled)
Metamorphosed Quartz-rich Sandstone
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Sage green, grey-green with cloudy white inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when polished); Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Sage green, grey-green with cloudy white inclusions
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy (when polished)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Sage green, grey-green with cloudy white inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (when polished); Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, typically during mountain-building events. The green color is often due to the presence of trace minerals like fuchsite or chlorite.
Uses & applications
Used for decorative purposes, landscape gravel, tumbled stones for collectors, and occasionally as a gemstone in handcrafted jewelry.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding rock layers during erosion. It is frequently mistaken for jade by amateur collectors due to its green hue and toughness.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its grainy, sandpaper-like texture in raw form. Commonly found in metamorphic belts like the Appalachians or the Cascades.
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