metamorphic
Quartzite River Pebble
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan, beige, or yellowish due to iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when wet; Structure: Granular/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Tan, beige, or yellowish due to iron staining
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy when wet
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Tan, beige, or yellowish due to iron staining; Luster: Vitreous to waxy when wet; Structure: Granular/Microcrystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. This specific specimen has been further shaped and smoothed by fluvial erosion in a river or stream environment.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as decorative landscaping stone, in construction as road ballast or concrete aggregate, and sometimes in tool making by prehistoric cultures. Smooth pebbles are also used in aquariums and spa therapy.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often survives where other rocks weather away. It is significantly harder than the sandstone from which it originated because the quartz grains have fused together.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its lack of reaction to acid. It often feels denser and looks 'grainier' than common glass but smoother than sandstone. Found worldwide in riverbeds and glacial deposits.
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