metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: White to grey with brownish-gray veins or discoloration. Luster: Vitreous to greasy on fresh surfaces. Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz grains fused together). Cleavage: None, fractures conchoidally. Specific gravity: 2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- White to grey with brownish-gray veins or discoloration
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy on fresh surfaces
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: White to grey with brownish-gray veins or discoloration. Luster: Vitreous to greasy on fresh surfaces. Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline quartz grains fused together). Cleavage: None, fractures conchoidally. Specific gravity: 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert that has been subjected to heat and pressure through regional or contact metamorphism, causing the quartz grains to recrystallize and interlock tightly.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, decorative stone, construction aggregate, and occasionally for carving or as polished pocket stones.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and weather-resistant, which is why quartz-rich rocks often survive as smooth, rounded pebbles in rivers and beaches long after less durable minerals have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its high hardness (it will easily scratch glass and cannot be scratched by a steel knife) and the sugary, interlocking crystalline texture visible under a hand lens. Found globally in ancient metamorphic terrains and riverbeds.
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