metamorphic
Quartzite Pebble
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs), Color: Off-white/tan/cream, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Structure: Non-foliated granoblastic, Cleavage: None, Fracture: Conchoidal to splintery
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs), Color: Off-white/tan/cream, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Structure: Non-foliated granoblastic, Cleavage: None, Fracture: Conchoidal to splintery
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specimen shows a rounded shape due to alluvial or fluvial erosion (stream-worn).
Uses & applications
Used in construction as aggregate, railway ballast, as a decorative garden stone, and as a source of silica for manufacturing glass and ceramics.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding bedrock during erosion, resulting in smooth, rounded cobbles found far from their original source. It will scratch glass easily.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel blade) and its granular, sugary texture on a fresh break. Commonly found in riverbeds and glacial deposits.
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