metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color typically brown, tan, or reddish-brown due to iron oxide staining, luster ranges from vitreous to dull on weathered surfaces, massive or granular crystal structure with no notable cleavage.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Quartzite Pebble in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color typically brown, tan, or reddish-brown due to iron oxide staining, luster ranges from vitreous to dull on weathered surfaces, massive or granular crystal structure with no notable cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert that has been subjected to intense heat and pressure (metamorphism), typically during tectonic mountain-building events over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, construction aggregate, crushed stone for road bases, and occasionally in decorative masonry.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to weathering and erosion, which is why quartz-rich rocks often survive as rounded pebbles in rivers and beaches long after other rock types have broken down.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its high hardness (it will easily scratch glass and cannot be scratched by a knife), its sugary textured freshly broken surface, and lack of reaction to acid.
More like this
Other metamorphic specimens
Nephrite Jade
Nephrite
Mineral/Rock
Amphibolite
Amphibolite
metamorphic
Rhodonite
Manganese Silicate (Mn, Fe, Mg, Ca)SiO3
mineral
Rhodonite
(Mn,Fe,Mg,Ca)SiO3
mineral
Greenschist
Greenschist (containing Chlorite, Actinolite, and Epidote)
metamorphic
Garnet
Garnet group: X3Y2(SiO4)3 (commonly Almandine-Pyrope series)
mineral