Quartzite pebble

Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; reddish-tan to light brownish-pink color; dull to slightly vitreous luster; granular texture made of interlocking quartz grains; no cleavage; Conchoidal to uneven fracture.

Formed through the regional or contact metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, recrystallizing original sand grains into a tough, dense quartz rock. Later weathered and rounded into a pebble by stream or beach action.

Commonly used as construction aggregate, railway ballast, decorative landscaping gravel, and for road building due to its extreme durability and resistance to weathering.

Quartzite is extremely resistant to chemical weathering and erosion, often forming ridge lines and mountaintops where other rock types have eroded away.

Identified in the field by its hardness (scratches glass easily), sugary/granular appearance, and tough nature (breaks across grains rather than around them like sandstone). Found worldwide in rivers, beaches, and glaciated terrain.