metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphosed Quartz Sandstone
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors ranging from white and gray to pink and brown, vitreous to greasy luster, interlocking crystalline structure, lacks cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors ranging from white and gray to pink and brown, vitreous to greasy luster, interlocking crystalline structure, lacks cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high heat and pressure, typically occurring in mountain-building events over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as road aggregate, railroad ballast, manufacturing of silica brick, and sometimes as decorative stones or in landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why quartz-rich rocks often survive as rounded pebbles on high-energy beaches and rivers long after other minerals have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its hardness (scratches glass easily), the way it fractures across rather than around the quartz grains, and its typical smooth, water-worn appearance found in beach or river gravel deposits.
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