metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Rock (mainly Silicon Dioxide, SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Off-white, light gray, with yellowish iron staining; Luster: Dull to waxy; Structure: Granular/microcrystalline; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: approx 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Off-white, light gray, with yellowish iron staining
- Luster
- Dull to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Off-white, light gray, with yellowish iron staining; Luster: Dull to waxy; Structure: Granular/microcrystalline; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: approx 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under heat and pressure. It has been subsequently eroded and rounded by water transport (river or beach action).
Uses & applications
Commonly used as decorative landscaping stone, in construction as crushed stone, and occasionally in jewelry as a tumbled stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard it will scratch glass and even steel. It is more resistant to weathering than the sandstone it originated from.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness and granular texture. Look for smooth, rounded shapes in riverbeds or coastal regions. It will not react with acid, unlike similar-looking limestone.
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