Yellow Quartzite Pebble

Physical Properties

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Yellow-orange with white veining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Structure: Crystalline (granular); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7

Formation & Geological History

Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz sandstone. The yellow hue is typically caused by trace impurities of iron oxides (limonite/hematite). This specimen has been water-tumbled into a rounded pebble.

Uses & Applications

Used primarily for decorative landscaping, aquariums, and as a collector specimen. In larger quantities, crushed quartzite is used for road ballast and industrial silica.

Geological Facts

Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms the tops of ridges and hills in the Appalachian Mountains because it resists erosion better than the surrounding rock.

Field Identification & Locations

Identify in the field by its high hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel knife) and grainy, sugary texture under a lens. Commonly found in riverbeds or glacial deposits where quartz-rich rocks have been eroded.

Identified on: 5/15/2026

Mode: Standard