metamorphic
Green Quartzite
Silicon Dioxide (SiO2) with mineral inclusions
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: pale green to grey-green with reddish iron staining, Luster: vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Green Quartzite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: pale green to grey-green with reddish iron staining, Luster: vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. Under intense heat and pressure, quartz grains recrystallize and fuse together. The green color is often caused by micro-inclusions of fuchsite mica or chlorite.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative stone, in construction as crushed stone or ballast, and as a semi-precious material for lapidary work and landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often survives the weathering process better than most other rocks, frequently forming the tops of ridges and hills.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its superior hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel knife) and its grainy, sandpaper-like texture that has been fused into a solid mass. Commonly found in folded mountain belts.
More like this
