metamorphic
Quartzite pebble
Quartzite (Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular/Sugary; Crystal system: Hexagonal (microcrystalline)
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- White to translucent
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White to translucent; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular/Sugary; Crystal system: Hexagonal (microcrystalline)
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, causing quartz grains to recrystallize and fuse together. Often found in ancient mountain belts.
Uses & applications
Used as crushed stone for road construction, railroad ballast, and occasionally as a source of silica for glass manufacturing or as architectural stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is one of the most durable and weather-resistant rocks on Earth. It is often confused with marble, but marble is softer and reacts with acid, while quartzite does not.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness (scratches glass) and its characteristic rounded but granular 'sugary' appearance when weathered or tumbled in water.
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