metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (mostly SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: yellowish-tan with iron staining; Luster: dull to vitreous; Structure: granoblastic; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- yellowish-tan with iron staining
- Luster
- dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: yellowish-tan with iron staining; Luster: dull to vitreous; Structure: granoblastic; Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, often found in riverbeds or glacial deposits as rounded clasts.
Uses & applications
Used as construction aggregate, decorative landscaping stone, and in glass manufacturing if high in purity.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts other rocks during weathering, remaining as rounded pebbles long after the original host rock has eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and its sugary texture on a fresh break; commonly found in river deposits and gravel pits.
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