metamorphic
Pink Quartzite
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish-brown, grayish-white; 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-brown, grayish-white
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pink, reddish-brown, grayish-white; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. Under intense heat and pressure, original quartz grains recrystallize and fuse together into a dense, interlocking mosaic of crystals. Most occurrences are Precambrian to Paleozoic in age.
Uses & applications
Used as crushed stone for road construction and railway ballast; decorative stone in landscaping; manufacturing of glass and ceramics; and occasionally for carvings or rustic jewelry.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms the caps of hills and ridges because it resists weathering better than the surrounding rock. It is often confused with marble, but quartzite will scratch glass whereas marble will not.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by steel) and lack of reaction to acid. It typically breaks across individual sand grains rather than around them. Found globally in mountainous regions and shield areas.
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