metamorphic

Iron-stained quartz-rich rock

Likely quartzite with iron-oxide staining; identification is provisional from the image

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Mostly white to gray, glassy-to-dull quartz with rusty orange-brown iron staining and a rough, massive texture. Quartz has Mohs hardness 7, trigonal crystal structure, no cleavage, and specific gravity about 2.65; the rock appears fractured rather than cleaved.

Identified September 29, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

If quartzite, it formed when quartz-rich sandstone was recrystallized by heat and pressure, typically during regional metamorphism. Its age and precise formation environment cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Quartzite is used as construction and decorative stone, aggregate, and occasionally for carving or collecting; this small rough specimen has little commercial value.

Geological facts

The orange coloration commonly results from hematite or goethite coating or staining quartz grains.

Field identification & locations

Look for a very hard, quartz-rich rock that scratches glass and does not fizz in dilute acid; quartzite typically breaks across grains rather than around them. Quartzite occurs worldwide in metamorphic belts, but this specimen’s locality is unknown.