metamorphic
Quartzite with Quartz Vein
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to brown with a white vein; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Granular/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Tan to brown with a white vein
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan to brown with a white vein; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal Structure: Granular/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high heat and pressure, causing recrystallization. The white vein was formed by hydrothermal fluids filling a fracture later in its history. These can date from the Precambrian to more recent eras.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as construction aggregate, railway ballast, and sometimes in landscaping or as decorative river stones.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often survives intense weathering that destroys other rocks, leading to the formation of 'quartzite ridges'. The white line is a 'stress fracture' that was healed by secondary mineral deposition.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its sugary, granular texture. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, or mountain ranges where tectonic activity has occurred.
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