metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors range from white and gray to shades of yellow, brown, and red due to iron oxide impurities. Vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors range from white and gray to shades of yellow, brown, and red due to iron oxide impurities. Vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure, conchoidal fracture with no true cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert under high temperatures and pressures during regional metamorphism. Often smoothed and rounded into pebbles through fluvial or marine erosion over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, decorative stone, construction aggregate, and occasionally in glassmaking and refractory brick production.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why quartz-rich rocks frequently survive as pebbles in riverbeds and beaches long after other rock types have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Found worldwide in riverbeds, stream gravels, and ancient sedimentary basins. It can be identified in the field by its high hardness (scratches glass), sugary texture on fractured surfaces, and lack of effervescence with acid.
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