metamorphic
Quartz Vein in Metamorphic Rock
Quartzite or Schist host with Quartz (SiO2) intrusion
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Grey host with white/pinkish quartz inclusion; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Massive grain with crystalline vein; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture on quartz).
- Hardness
- 6-7 (Mohs)
- Color
- Grey host with white/pinkish quartz inclusion
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 6-7 (Mohs); Color: Grey host with white/pinkish quartz inclusion; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Massive grain with crystalline vein; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture on quartz).
Formation & geological history
Formed through regional metamorphism where silica-rich hydrothermal fluids filled fractures in an existing rock, cooling to form a vein. Many such river-tumbled rocks are from the Paleozoic era.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as decorative landscaping stone or for geological study; generally considered a common river pebble.
Geological facts
The 'band' or 'stripe' in the rock is called a vein. These veins often form late in the metamorphic process when the host rock is brittle enough to crack under pressure.
Field identification & locations
Found commonly in riverbeds and glacial deposits. Identify by the distinct color contrast and the hardness of the white vein, which cannot be scratched by a steel knife.
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