metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Tan, beige, white, with iron-staining (yellowish/brownish streaks). Luster: Dull to vitreous. Texture: Granular but smooth due to river tumbling. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Tan, beige, white, with iron-staining (yellowish/brownish streaks). Luster: Dull to vitreous. Texture: Granular but smooth due to river tumbling. Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specific specimen has been rounded and smoothed by water transport in a river or stream environment over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative landscaping stone, drainage material, and in construction aggregate. High-purity quartzite is used in glassmaking and electronics.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it usually breaks through individual quartz grains rather than around them. It is one of the most durable rocks on Earth's surface, often capping mountain ranges because it resists erosion better than surrounding rocks.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (it will scratch glass and steel) and its crystalline, sugary appearance when broken. It is extremely common in glacial till and riverbeds across North America and Europe.
