metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors ranging from white to gray and brownish, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains, lack of visible cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors ranging from white to gray and brownish, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains, lack of visible cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert through regional or contact metamorphism involving high heat and pressure, which recrystallizes the quartz grains. Can range in geological age from Precambrian to Cenozoic.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as aggregate, in railway ballast, for manufacturing silica brick and ferrosilicon, and sometimes as decorative stones or in landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why quartz-rich sandstone parent rocks often weather into durable pebbles and boulders found in riverbeds and beaches.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its hard nature (will scratch glass easily), lack of effervescence with acid, and the sugary, interlocking texture of quartz crystals visible under magnification. Found globally in ancient mountain belts and river deposits.
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