metamorphic
Pink Quartzite
Quartzite (mainly SiO2 with iron oxide impurities)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish, or purplish; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pink, reddish, or purplish
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish, or purplish; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. High heat and pressure cause quartz grains to recrystallize and fuse together. Often found in Precambrian and Paleozoic mountain belts.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone, crushed stone for road construction, railway ballast, and occasionally for lapidary work or inexpensive jewelry.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it usually breaks through the quartz grains rather than along their boundaries, unlike sandstone. The pink color is typically caused by tiny amounts of hematite or other iron oxides.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness (it will scratch glass) and its sugary, crystalline texture that does not rub off like sand. Look for it in glaciated areas or mountainous metamorphic terrains.
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