metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: Light yellow, beige, or white; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Interlocking mosaic of quartz grains; Cleavage: None (fractures conchoidally); Specific gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- Light yellow, beige, or white
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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 the Mohs scale; Color: Light yellow, beige, or white; Luster: Vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: Interlocking mosaic of quartz grains; Cleavage: None (fractures conchoidally); Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone or chert under high heat and pressure, typically in tectonic mountain-building zones.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as road aggregate, railroad ballast, and decorative landscaping stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why quartz-rich rocks often survive as smooth pebbles in riverbeds and beaches long after other rocks have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its hardness (scratches glass easily), lack of effervescence with acid, and the visible sugary or interlocking quartz texture when examined closely.
More like this
