metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to tan with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- White to tan with iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: White to tan with iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Structure: Granular/Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, typically in convergent plate boundaries. This specific specimen is a water-worn river pebble.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative landscape stone, in road construction (ballast), and as a raw material for glass making or silica production.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard that it will scratch glass and even steel. It is more resistant to weathering than the sandstone it originated from, often forming the caps of ridges and mountains.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its hardness (cannot be scratched by a knife) and its grainy, sugary texture under a lens. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and mountain ranges globally.
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