metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphosed Silicon Dioxide (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to tan with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when wet; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Milky white to tan with iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy when wet
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Milky white to tan with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when wet; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specific specimen has been further shaped and smoothed by river or coastal water erosion.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative gravel in landscaping, as an abrasive in industrial processes, and occasionally as a source for silica in glassmaking.
Geological facts
Quartzite is one of the most durable and weather-resistant rocks on Earth. Historically, it was used by many cultures to create stone tools because of its hardness and predictable fracture patterns.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel and its translucent, sugary appearance. Extremely common in riverbeds and mountainous terrain.
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