metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Metamorphosed Quartz Sandstone (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Greyscale to translucent white with tan veins. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Texture: Granular, crystalline structure. Very high durability.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Greyscale to translucent white with tan veins
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale. Color: Greyscale to translucent white with tan veins. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Texture: Granular, crystalline structure. Very high durability.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. High heat and pressure in regional metamorphic zones fuse individual quartz grains together. This specimen shows signs of fluvial erosion (rounded water-worn shape).
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as railway ballast, as a decorative garden stone, and in the production of glass and industrial abrasives.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding rock layers, ending up as rounded river pebbles or coastal cobbles. It will scratch glass easily.
Field identification & locations
Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and along coastlines. Identify by its extreme hardness, lack of reaction to acid, and sugary, granular surface texture when viewed closely.
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