metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown, tan, or gray with a vitreous to greasy luster and massive crystal structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown, tan, or gray with a vitreous to greasy luster and massive crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone subjected to intense heat and pressure during tectonic metamorphism over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction, aggregate, railway ballast, and occasionally for decorative landscaping or tumbling.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and weather-resistant, often outlasting the mountains from which it originally eroded.
Field identification & locations
Found globally in riverbeds and glacial tills as water-worn pebbles; identified by its extreme hardness and inability to be scratched by a steel knife.
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