metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to light grey with pinkish hues; Luster: dull to vitreous; Structure: granoblastic/crystalline; Cleavage: none; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- white to light grey with pinkish hues
- Luster
- dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to light grey with pinkish hues; Luster: dull to vitreous; Structure: granoblastic/crystalline; Cleavage: none; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, typically in orogenic (mountain-building) belts. This specimen has been rounded by fluvial or glacial transport.
Uses & applications
Used as track ballast, in road construction, as an abrasive, and high-purity varieties are used to produce silicon for glass and electronics. Polished pebbles are used in landscaping/decor.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often breaks through the internal quartz grains rather than around them. It is one of the most mechanically and chemically resistant rocks on the Earth's surface.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel nail and its sugary, crystalline texture on a fresh break. Commonly found in riverbeds and glacial tills.
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