metamorphic
Quartzite pebble
SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide)
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; off-white to pale gray color with minor brownish iron oxide staining; dull to vitreous luster; granular microcrystalline texture; no distinct cleavage; specific gravity ~2.65.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Quartzite pebble in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; off-white to pale gray color with minor brownish iron oxide staining; dull to vitreous luster; granular microcrystalline texture; no distinct cleavage; specific gravity ~2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone, where heat and pressure fuse quartz grains into an interlocking crystalline matrix. Subsequently weathered and rounded by water transport into a pebble.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as aggregate, landscaping stone, railway ballast, and decorative garden pebbles. Minimal commercial value for small single pieces.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely tough and resistant to chemical weathering. When struck, quartzite breaks across its quartz grains rather than along grain boundaries, unlike sandstone.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its extreme hardness (scratches glass readily) and granular, fused quartz texture. Widely found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and mountain streams around the world.
More like this
