metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors typically white, gray, or yellowish-brown, vitreous to dull luster, massive or granular crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors typically white, gray, or yellowish-brown, vitreous to dull luster, massive or granular crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert that has been subjected to high temperatures and pressures usually associated with tectonic compression during regional metamorphism.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as crushed stone for roadbeds, railway ballast, manufacturing of silica bricks, and occasionally as decorative stone or in landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why quartz sandstone-derived pebbles often survive long transport in rivers and streams to become smooth, rounded pebbles.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife (hardness > 5.5), lack of fizzing with acid, and the fused quartz grains visible under a hand lens. Found globally in ancient mountain belts and riverbeds.
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