metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pinkish-tan with reddish iron-oxide staining; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Non-foliated, granular; Cleavage: None, breaks with conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pinkish-tan with reddish iron-oxide staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pinkish-tan with reddish iron-oxide staining; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Non-foliated, granular; Cleavage: None, breaks with conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz-rich sandstone is subjected to intense heat and pressure during regional metamorphism, fusing quartz grains together. This specific specimen has been water-worn into a rounded pebble.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative landscaping stone, in construction as crushed stone for road ballast, and occasionally as a source of silica for glassmaking.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so durable that it often survives through many cycles of erosion, which is why it is commonly found as rounded river pebbles far from its source rock. It is harder than steel.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel blade) and its granular, sugary texture. Common in riverbeds and glacial deposits throughout North America.
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