metamorphic
Quartzite Fragment
Crystalline Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Creamy white to pale yellowish; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (granular); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Creamy white to pale yellowish
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Creamy white to pale yellowish; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (granular); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, causing the grains to recrystallize into an interlocking mosaic.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as crushed stone in construction, road surfacing, and railway ballast. High-quality quartzite is used for countertops and abrasive materials.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so durable that it often forms the ridges and peaks of mountain ranges because it resists erosion much better than surrounding rock types.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness (scratches glass) and granular texture that looks like sugar. It is found globally in metamorphic belts.
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