metamorphic
Pink Quartzite
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pinkish-red to brownish-pink due to iron oxide impurities. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular texture). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pinkish-red to brownish-pink due to iron oxide impurities
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Pinkish-red to brownish-pink due to iron oxide impurities. Luster: Vitreous to dull. Crystal structure: Trigonal (granular texture). Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture). Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure, causing quartz grains to recrystallize into a dense interlaced structure. Found across various geological ages, often in Precambrian shields.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone or road ballast, as a decorative stone in landscaping, and occasionally as dimension stone for tiles and countertops. It is also a source of silica in industrial glassmaking.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms the caprock of ridges and mountains because it resists erosion better than the surrounding rock. It is often confused with marble, but quartzite will scratch glass while marble will not.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by steel) and its granular, sugary texture. It is common in mountainous regions like the Appalachians, the Rockies, and parts of Scandinavia and Brazil.
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