metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
SiO2 (Silicon Dioxide)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan, beige, reddish-brown; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (smooth from tumbling); Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Tan, beige, reddish-brown
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy (smooth from tumbling)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan, beige, reddish-brown; Luster: Vitreous to waxy (smooth from tumbling); Crystal structure: Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture; Specific gravity: 2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure. This specific rounded pebble likely originated in a riverbed or coastal environment where it was tumbled by water movement over thousands of years.
Uses & applications
Used in landscaping, road construction, as an abrasive, and sometimes in gravel for walk-ways. Small tumbled smooth specimens like this are often collected as 'pocket stones' or for decorative jars.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms the tops of hills and mountains because it resists weathering better than surrounding rocks. It was also used by prehistoric humans to make stone tools when flint was unavailable.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (it will easily scratch glass) and lack of visible grains compared to sandstone. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial till, and along beaches globally.
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