metamorphic

Iron-stained quartzite pebble

Quartzite, composed predominantly of quartz (SiO₂) with iron-oxide staining

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Likely hard (about 7 Mohs), rounded and fine-grained, with a gray-brown surface and rusty orange bands. Quartz has a trigonal crystal structure, but quartzite shows no obvious cleavage and typically breaks across interlocking grains; the image does not permit definitive identification.

Identified October 4, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Quartz-rich sandstone recrystallized under heat and pressure into quartzite; iron oxides likely produced the orange-brown staining. Its age and source cannot be determined from the photograph.

Uses & applications

Quartzite is used as aggregate, road stone, building stone, and decorative material; this small pebble is mainly suitable for collecting or landscaping.

Geological facts

Quartzite is generally harder and more resistant to weathering than its sandstone precursor.

Field identification & locations

The rounded shape suggests transport by water or glacial action. Look for a hard, gritty-to-glassy texture and grains that resist being scratched by a steel knife; similar pebbles occur in riverbeds and glacial deposits.