metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to tan and reddish-brown due to iron impurities. Exhibits a vitreous to greasy luster with a compact, interlocking crystalline structure and no cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to tan and reddish-brown due to iron impurities. Exhibits a vitreous to greasy luster with a compact, interlocking crystalline structure and no cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the thermal or regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high temperatures and pressures, often taking millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, railroad ballast, crushed stone for road aggregates, and occasionally as a decorative landscape stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why quartz-rich rocks often outlive other minerals in riverbeds and beaches.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its extreme hardness that easily scratches glass and its failure to effervesce with hydrochloric acid. Commonly found in ancient riverbeds, glacial tills, and mountainous metamorphic belts worldwide.
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