metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (SiO2 silicon dioxide)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan, brown, gray, or whitish; Luster: Vitreous to dull when weathered; Structure: Granular/crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Tan, brown, gray, or whitish
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull when weathered
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan, brown, gray, or whitish; Luster: Vitreous to dull when weathered; Structure: Granular/crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure. This specific specimen has been further shaped and rounded by water transport in a river or glacial environment.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in construction as crushed stone, road ballast, or decorative landscaping rock. High-purity quartzite is used to produce glass and silicon metal.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms the caps of ridges and mountains because it erodes much more slowly than the surrounding rock.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will scratch glass) and its sugary, granular texture. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and mountainous regions worldwide.
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