metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: light grey with tan/orange oxidation stains; Luster: dull to vitreous; Structure: granular/crystalline; Cleavage: none; Specific gravity: approx. 2.6
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- light grey with tan/orange oxidation stains
- Luster
- dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: light grey with tan/orange oxidation stains; Luster: dull to vitreous; Structure: granular/crystalline; Cleavage: none; Specific gravity: approx. 2.6
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under heat and pressure. This specimen shows significant rounding due to fluvial or glacial erosion.
Uses & applications
Crushed stone for road construction, railway ballast, and industrial use in glassmaking or ceramics due to high silica content.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often survives intense weathering that destroys other rocks, resulting in smoothed pebbles like this one found in riverbeds and glacial tills.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its granular appearance that looks like sand grains fused into a solid mass. Commonly found globally where ancient sedimentary basins were folded.
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