metamorphic
Quartzite (Pink / Peach)
SiO2 (Metamorphosed Quartz Sandstone)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pinkish-peach to reddish-orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when smooth/wet; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline interlocking network); Cleavage: None, fractures conchoidally or unevenly; Specific Gravity: ~2.65
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Pinkish-peach to reddish-orange
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy when smooth/wet
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Pinkish-peach to reddish-orange; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when smooth/wet; Crystal Structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline interlocking network); Cleavage: None, fractures conchoidally or unevenly; Specific Gravity: ~2.65
Formation & geological history
Formed when pure quartz sandstone undergoes intense heat and pressure during regional metamorphism, fusing the quartz grains together into a dense, crystalline metamorphic rock.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone, aquarium gravel, landscaping material, aggregate in construction, and polished cabochons for lapidary art.
Geological facts
Unlike sandstone, which breaks around individual sand grains, quartzite breaks through the quartz grains due to its tightly recrystallized interlocking matrix.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its high hardness (scratches glass with ease) and lack of reaction to acid. Commonly found in eroded mountain belts, riverbeds, and glacial deposits worldwide.
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