metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartz Arenite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, reddish-brown color from iron oxide staining, vitreous luster, and massive crystal structure with no cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, reddish-brown color from iron oxide staining, vitreous luster, and massive crystal structure with no cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the thermal metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction, road aggregates, and occasionally as decorative landscape stones or lapidary specimens.
Geological facts
Quartzite is exceptionally resistant to weathering, which explains why quartz-rich pebbles often survive long transport in riverbeds.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness that scratches glass and its inability to effervesce with acid. Commonly found in ancient river gravels and glacial drift.
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