metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphosed quartz sandstone (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, dull to vitreous luster, fine-grained crypto-crystalline structure, conchoidal fracture, white to light gray or tan color.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, dull to vitreous luster, fine-grained crypto-crystalline structure, conchoidal fracture, white to light gray or tan color.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the thermal and pressure-driven metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone, typically in mountain-building or tectonic collision zones over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, road aggregate, manufacturing of silica bricks, and occasionally as decorative landscaping stones or tumbling rough.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to weathering, which is why it often survives as smooth, rounded pebbles in rivers and beaches long after surrounding rocks have eroded.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its inability to be scratched by steel and its tendency to fracture across quartz grains rather than around them. Common in riverbeds, glacial tills, and marine beaches worldwide.
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