metamorphic

Quartzite Pebble

Quartzite (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; color is off-white to gray with internal graininess; luster is dull to waxy; non-foliated granoblastic texture; very high resistance to chemical weathering.

Identified July 5, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; color is off-white to gray with internal graininess; luster is dull to waxy; non-foliated granoblastic texture; very high resistance to chemical weathering.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, causing recrystallization of quartz grains. These pebbles are often rounded by long-term fluvial or glacial transport.

Uses & applications

Used as a decorative garden stone, in construction as crushed stone or ballast, and as a durable abrasive material in industrial grinding.

Geological facts

Quartzite is so durable that it often outlasts the surrounding rocks in a landscape, forming resistant ridges or caprocks; its hardness makes it a great material for ancient stone tools.

Field identification & locations

Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel nail and its grainy, sugary look when broken. Found globally in riverbeds, glaciated plains, and ancient mountain belts.