metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite
Hardness (Mohs scale): 7; Color: Grayish-white to light gray; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Color
- Grayish-white to light gray
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness (Mohs scale): 7; Color: Grayish-white to light gray; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Crystal structure: Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, usually at convergent plate boundaries. This specific specimen has been rounded by fluvial (river) or glacial transport.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative landscape stone, in road construction as aggregate, and sometimes in glass manufacturing if high purity quartz is present.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the mountain ranges in which it formed, frequently appearing as resistant ridges or as rounded pebbles in younger sediments.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its grainy, sugary texture under a lens. It will not react with acid, distinguishing it from limestone. Commonly found in riverbeds and glacial tills.
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