Green Quartzite

Hardness: 7 Mohs, Color: Pale green to greyish-green, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Structure: Granoblastic, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture), Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7

Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high heat and pressure, typically during regional mountain-building events. The green tint often comes from trace inclusions of fuchsite or chlorite.

Used as decorative stone, crushed stone for road construction, railway ballast, and occasionally for high-end countertops or architectural tiles.

Quartzite is so hard that it can scratch steel and glass. It is often much harder and more durable than the parent sandstone from which it originated.

Identify by its hardness (cannot be scratched by a knife) and its sugary, crystalline texture. It is commonly found in ancient mountain ranges such as the Appalachians or the Scottish Highlands.