metamorphic
Quartzite pebble
Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on Mohs scale. Typically light-colored, white to gray, with a sugary or granular texture. Luster is vitreous to dull.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale. Typically light-colored, white to gray, with a sugary or granular texture. Luster is vitreous to dull.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone subjected to high heat and pressure, typically during tectonic collisions. Frequently weathered into smooth pebbles by fluvial or marine action.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction, as railroad ballast, or decorative aggregate.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to chemical weathering, which is why it often survives as rounded cobbles and pebbles in riverbeds and beaches.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its hardness (scratches glass) and granular texture that breaks across the sand grains rather than around them. Very common in the coastal plain gravels of South Carolina.
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