Quartzite Pebble

Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: tan to light brown, Luster: vitreous or dull, Structure: granular, non-foliated, Cleavage: poor (fractures conchoidally)

Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under heat and pressure. This specimen shows signs of water-worn weathering, typical of river or stream bed deposits.

Primarily used in construction as crushed stone, road ballast, or landscaping gravel. High-purity quartzite is used in glass and silicon production.

Quartzite is one of the most durable rocks on Earth's surface. It is so hard that it will scratch glass and even steel files. Because of its resistance to weathering, it often forms prominent ridges and hills.

Identify in the field by its grainy, crystalline texture that breaks through the grains rather than around them (unlike sandstone). Commonly found in ancient mountain belts or riverbeds.