metamorphic
Quartzite pebble
Quartzite (principally SiO2)
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to grey/tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Granular/Granoblastic; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
- Hardness
- 7 Mohs
- Color
- White to grey/tan
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 Mohs; Color: White to grey/tan; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Granular/Granoblastic; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone subjected to high heat and pressure, typically in convergent plate boundaries. This rounded shape results from fluvial or marine erosion.
Uses & applications
Used as construction aggregate, railway ballast, road metal, and in some chemical industries as a source of silica. Hand-sized pebbles are often used in decorative landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often survives long-distance transport in rivers, leading to rounded pebbles like this one appearing far from their original source rock.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness (scratches glass easily) and granular appearance. Found worldwide in riverbeds, beaches, and glacial deposits.
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