metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors ranging from white and gray to pink and orange due to iron oxide staining, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains, no true cleavage, specific gravity of approximately 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors ranging from white and gray to pink and orange due to iron oxide staining, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains, no true cleavage, specific gravity of approximately 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert that has been subjected to heat and pressure through regional or contact metamorphism. Geological age varies widely depending on the formation region, spanning from Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone for road bases, railway ballast, building facades, and decorative landscaping. Also used in the production of silica bricks and ferrosilicon.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why quartz-rich rocks often survive as smooth, rounded pebbles on beaches and in riverbeds long after softer minerals have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Easily identified in the field by its extreme hardness (will scratch glass and cannot be scratched by a steel knife) and the sugary texture of fractured surfaces where quartz grains break across rather than around the grain boundaries. Found worldwide.
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