metamorphic
Pink quartzite (likely)
Quartzite; predominantly microcrystalline quartz (SiO₂), possibly iron-oxide stained
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness about 7 Mohs; salmon-pink to reddish-brown, fine-grained, and typically glassy to dull. Massive with no obvious cleavage, conchoidal to irregular fracture, and high durability; the rounded surface indicates natural or human tumbling/abrasion.
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Physical properties
Hardness about 7 Mohs; salmon-pink to reddish-brown, fine-grained, and typically glassy to dull. Massive with no obvious cleavage, conchoidal to irregular fracture, and high durability; the rounded surface indicates natural or human tumbling/abrasion.
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz-rich sandstone was recrystallized under intense heat and pressure, commonly during Precambrian or Paleozoic mountain-building. The pink color likely comes from hematite or other iron-bearing impurities.
Uses & applications
Used as crushed stone, aggregate, building and facing stone, landscaping rock, and occasionally as a lapidary or ornamental material. This rounded piece has modest decorative or educational value.
Geological facts
Quartzite is generally more resistant to weathering than its parent sandstone and can form prominent ridges and boulder fields.
Field identification & locations
Identify it by its hardness, sugary quartz texture, lack of visible sand grains, and inability to scratch it with a steel knife; quartz-rich sandstone may show distinct grains. Common in metamorphic mountain belts worldwide, including Brazil, India, Scandinavia, and the western United States.
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