metamorphic
Yellow Quartzite or Yellow Jasper
Quartzite (primarily SiO2 with Iron oxide staining)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Honey-yellow, mustard, or amber-gold; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6 – 2.7
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Honey-yellow, mustard, or amber-gold
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Honey-yellow, mustard, or amber-gold; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6 – 2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, or as a microcrystalline chert (Jasper). The yellow hue is typically caused by goethite or limonite (iron) inclusions. These rounded 'river stones' are shaped by hydrological erosion over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, as decorative 'river rock', tumbled stones for collectors, and sometimes in lapidary work for cabochons or beads.
Geological facts
Yellow quartzite is often mistaken for Citrine, but it is opaque or translucent rather than transparent. Because of its hardness, it is very durable and holds a high polish.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel blade and its smooth, water-worn texture. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and beaches where ancient sedimentary layers have eroded.
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