metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, yellowish-tan to buff color, dull to sub-vitreous luster, granular sugary texture, highly resistant to scratching.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, yellowish-tan to buff color, dull to sub-vitreous luster, granular sugary texture, highly resistant to scratching.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz sandstone that underwent intense heat and pressure during regional metamorphism, then rounded by fluvial or beach erosion.
Uses & applications
Used in construction aggregates, landscape design, aquariums, and decorative stone crafts.
Geological facts
Quartzite pebbles are extremely durable and often survive multiple cycles of erosion, transport, and redeposition over hundreds of millions of years.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hard, tightly interlocking quartz grains that break across grains rather than around them. Common in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and beaches worldwide.
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