metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (Metamorphosed Sandstone)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, commonly gray, white, or pinkish in color, with a vitreous to greasy luster. It features a non-foliated, interlocking crystalline structure with high durability and resistance to weathering.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, commonly gray, white, or pinkish in color, with a vitreous to greasy luster. It features a non-foliated, interlocking crystalline structure with high durability and resistance to weathering.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone subjected to intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth's crust during tectonic processes.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone, railroad ballast, aggregate, and for decorative landscaping or manufacturing refractory bricks.
Geological facts
Because quartz is extremely resistant to chemical weathering and physical abrasion, quartz quartzites often survive as smooth, rounded pebbles on beaches and in riverbeds long after less durable rocks have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified by its high hardness (it will easily scratch glass and cannot be scratched by a knife) and its sugary, interlocking crystalline texture visible on freshly broken surfaces. Found worldwide in ancient metamorphic belts and coastal deposition zones.
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