metamorphic
Quartzite River Pebble
Metamorphosed Sandstone (Quartzite)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: light gray with faint banding, Luster: dull to slightly sparkling (vitreous when broken), Crystal Structure: Macrocrystalline, cleavage: none.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: light gray with faint banding, Luster: dull to slightly sparkling (vitreous when broken), Crystal Structure: Macrocrystalline, cleavage: none.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under heat and pressure. This specific specimen has been further shaped and rounded by river or coastal erosion.
Uses & applications
Commonly used in landscaping, as aggregate in construction, and sometimes for decorative stone carvings or as high-quality ballast.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding rocks during erosion, which is why it is so frequently found as rounded pebbles in rivers and beaches.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by a steel blade) and its grainy, sandpaper-like texture that doesn't rub off. Very common in riverbeds globally.
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