metamorphic

Pink quartzite pebble

Quartzite, predominantly SiO₂ with minor feldspar and iron-oxide staining

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness about 7 Mohs; pale pink-gray, granular texture, and vitreous to dull luster. Quartz grains are tightly interlocked, giving little or no cleavage and conchoidal-to-irregular fracture; specific gravity is about 2.65.

Identified September 11, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Formation & geological history

Formed when quartz-rich sandstone was metamorphosed under heat and pressure, typically during regional mountain building. Its exact geological age cannot be determined from the photograph; quartzites range from Precambrian to recent metamorphic terrains.

Uses & applications

Used as crushed stone, aggregate, building and paving stone, and occasionally as a decorative lapidary material. Small rounded pieces have modest collecting value.

Geological facts

Quartzite is generally tougher and more resistant to weathering than its sandstone precursor. The pink color commonly reflects trace iron oxides or potassium-rich feldspar.

Field identification & locations

Identify it by its very hard, sugary quartz texture and inability to scratch with a steel knife; unlike sandstone, it does not readily crumble along grain boundaries. Common in metamorphic mountain belts and stream gravels derived from them.