metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, color ranges from grey to tan, dull to waxy luster when unpolished, granoblastic texture, very durable and resistant to weathering.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, color ranges from grey to tan, dull to waxy luster when unpolished, granoblastic texture, very durable and resistant to weathering.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specimen shows significant rounding due to fluvial or glacial erosion.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as construction aggregate, railway ballast, and decorative landscaping stones. Higher purity quartzite is used in glassmaking and electronics.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the rock layers around it, remaining as resilient pebbles in riverbeds or on top of ridges long after other rocks have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its grainy, sugary appearance on a fresh break. Found globally in ancient mountain belts.
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