metamorphic
Green Quartzite
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Pale green to grey-green. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Texture: Granular, crystalline. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
- Hardness
- 7 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Pale green to grey-green
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Pale green to grey-green. Luster: Vitreous to waxy. Texture: Granular, crystalline. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. It undergoes intense heat and pressure that causes the sand grains to recrystallize into a hard, interlocking network of quartz crystals.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as road ballast, flooring, and wall facing. Frequently tumbled or polished for use as decorative stones, low-cost jewelry, or landscaping gravel.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms the crests of ridges and mountains. It can be distinguished from sandstone because it breaks across the grains rather than around them.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its high hardness (will scratch glass) and lack of reaction to acid. Often found in mountainous regions or metamorphic belts around the world like the Appalachians or the Alps.
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