metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to light tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull/waxy; Structure: Granular/crystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7. Highly resistant to chemical weathering.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White to light tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull/waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to light tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull/waxy; Structure: Granular/crystalline; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7. Highly resistant to chemical weathering.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, typically during mountain-building events. This specific specimen has been further shaped and smoothed by water erosion in a river or coastal environment.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative landscape stone, in glass manufacturing (if high purity), as a construction aggregate, and occasionally as a tumbling stone for hobbyists.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the mountain ranges it was formed in, becoming the primary component of river gravel and sea beaches long after other rocks have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness (it will scratch glass) and its sugary, granular surface texture that looks like sparkles under direct light. Often found in riverbeds and glacial deposits.
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