metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or tan in color with a vitreous to greasy luster. It features a dense, interlocking crystalline structure with no distinct cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or tan in color with a vitreous to greasy luster. It features a dense, interlocking crystalline structure with no distinct cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional or contact metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high temperatures and pressures, typically dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction for road aggregate, railroad ballast, and building stone, as well as in manufacturing metallurgical silica.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to weathering and erosion, which allows it to survive long transport distances in riverbeds and beaches as smooth pebbles.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its sugary fractured surface; commonly found in stream beds and ancient marine deposits worldwide.
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