metamorphic
Light Green Quartzite
Metamorphosed Quartz Sandstone (SiO2 with chlorite or mica inclusions)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: light mint green, Luster: dull to vitreous, Structure: granular crystalline, Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: light mint green, Luster: dull to vitreous, Structure: granular crystalline, Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, often in orogenic belts. Likely dates from various geological eras depending on location.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone, in construction as crushed stone or road ballast, and occasionally as an ornamental lapidary material.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it will often break across the individual quartz grains rather than around them, which distinguishes it from sandstone.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel knife) and granular, sugary appearance. Found in mountainous or old tectonic regions globally.
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