metamorphic
Quartzite pebble
Quartzite (SiO2 with trace iron/feldspar)
Mohs hardness 7. Color ranges from grayish white to pinkish gray due to iron oxides. Vitreous to waxy luster, conchoidal to uneven fracture, granoblastic texture, specific gravity 2.65.
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Physical properties
Mohs hardness 7. Color ranges from grayish white to pinkish gray due to iron oxides. Vitreous to waxy luster, conchoidal to uneven fracture, granoblastic texture, specific gravity 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed via the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under extreme heat and pressure, often reshaped into rounded river pebbles through water erosion.
Uses & applications
Used as construction aggregate, ballast, landscaping stone, and decorative river rocks. High-purity quartzite is also used to produce silicon.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering. River-worn pebbles like this one can travel hundreds of miles along waterways over thousands of years.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hard, non-porous sugary texture where individual quartz grains have fused together, scratching glass easily. Very common in riverbeds, glacial tills, and gravel deposits globally.
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