metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (mostly SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: tan to light brown, Luster: dull to vitreous, Texture: smooth and rounded from water erosion, Structure: crystalline (granular)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: tan to light brown, Luster: dull to vitreous, Texture: smooth and rounded from water erosion, Structure: crystalline (granular)
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, subsequently rounded by fluvial or glacial transport.
Uses & applications
Used as construction aggregate, landscaping, road ballast, and occasionally for primitive tools or decorative stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often survives long-distance transport in rivers and along beaches, outlasting softer rocks. It breaks through the quartz grains rather than around them.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and lack of reaction to acid. Often found in riverbeds, gravel pits, and coastal areas.
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