metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pinkish-red to tan due to iron inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granoblastic, non-foliated; Structure: Recrystallized quartz grains.
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Pinkish-red to tan due to iron inclusions
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Pinkish-red to tan due to iron inclusions; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granoblastic, non-foliated; Structure: Recrystallized quartz grains.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specimen shows signs of mechanical weathering and rounding as a water-worn river stone or beach pebble.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative landscaping stone, in construction as crushed stone or ballast, and as a durable architectural material.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often survives the intense physical weathering of rivers and oceans better than its parent rocks, resulting in these smooth, rounded cobbles.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of layering compared to sandstone. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and along coastlines.
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