metamorphic
Quartzite River Rock
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Creamy white with dark grey/brown mineral banding; Luster: Dull to waxy; Texture: Fine-grained, granular; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Creamy white with dark grey/brown mineral banding
- Luster
- Dull to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Creamy white with dark grey/brown mineral banding; Luster: Dull to waxy; Texture: Fine-grained, granular; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specimen has been smoothed and rounded over thousands of years by fluvial (river) erosion.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as decorative landscaping stone, in construction as road ballast, or as a source of silica in glass manufacturing.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so durable that it often survives where other rocks weather away. It is one of the hardest common metamorphic rocks, capable of scratching glass or steel easily.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (cannot be scratched by a knife) and smooth, water-worn texture. Found globally in riverbeds and glacial deposits.
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