metamorphic
Quartzite pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, vitreous to dull luster, color ranging from pinkish-tan to reddish-brown, smooth rounded river-worn texture, non-porous.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, vitreous to dull luster, color ranging from pinkish-tan to reddish-brown, smooth rounded river-worn texture, non-porous.
Formation & geological history
Formed from sandstone subjected to intense heat and pressure during regional metamorphism, causing quartz grains to recrystallize and interlock tightly. Later eroded and rounded by water transport.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative gravel, in lapidary arts, for stone polishing, and historically as aggregate or building material.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that when it breaks, it fractures right through the quartz grains rather than around them, unlike sandstone.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife, granular quartz appearance, and smooth water-worn pebble surface. Extremely common along riverbeds and beaches worldwide.
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