metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartz Arenite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, grayish-green color, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with no distinct cleavage, and a specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, grayish-green color, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with no distinct cleavage, and a specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the thermal and pressure-induced metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone over hundreds of millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction, aggregate for roads, manufacturing of silica bricks, and occasionally as a decorative landscape stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to weathering, which allows quartz-rich pebbles to survive extensive river transport while maintaining a smooth, rounded shape.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel and its tendency to fracture across quartz grains rather than around them. Found globally in ancient mountain belts and riverbeds.
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