metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; dull to glassy wet luster; light brown/tan color; sugary to dense fine-grained interlocking quartz texture; lacks cleavage
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale; dull to glassy wet luster; light brown/tan color; sugary to dense fine-grained interlocking quartz texture; lacks cleavage
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional or contact metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, causing quartz grains to recrystallize into a interlocking crystalline matrix.
Uses & applications
Used widely as construction aggregate, railway ballast, decorative landscaping stone, and in lapidary work.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and durable that when struck with a hammer, it fractures across the quartz grains rather than along grain boundaries as sandstone does.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its extreme hardness (scratches glass/steel easily) and sugary interlocking mineral texture. Commonly found in glaciated regions, riverbeds, and beach deposits.
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