metamorphic
Quartzite Pebbles
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to light gray, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Texture: Granular and sugary, Structure: Non-foliated interlocking quartz crystals, Common cleavage: None.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: White to light gray, Luster: Dull to vitreous, Texture: Granular and sugary, Structure: Non-foliated interlocking quartz crystals, Common cleavage: None.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specimen shows a rounded shape due to water erosion in a stream, river, or coastal environment.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone, road ballast, and decorative landscaping. High-purity quartzite is used to produce glass and silicon metal.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often breaks through the grains rather than around them, unlike its parent rock sandstone. It is extremely resistant to chemical weathering.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its granular, sugary appearance. It is one of the most common rock types found in riverbeds and glacial deposits worldwide.
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