Quartzite Pebble

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: tan, cream, or light brown, Luster: dull to waxy (weathered), Structure: granular/crystalline, SG: 2.6-2.7

Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high heat and pressure, often hundreds of millions of years old. The rounded shape indicates water erosion in a river or beach environment.

Used in construction as crushed stone or ballast, in specialized glass manufacturing, and as decorative river rock in landscaping.

Quartzite is so hard that it can scratch glass and steel; it is often more durable than the parent sandstone from which it originated.

Identify by its hardness and granular, sugary appearance on a fresh break. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and sedimentary basins worldwide.