metamorphic
Quartzite River Pebble
Quartzite (comp: SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Tan, beige, or off-white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular/sugary; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- Tan, beige, or off-white
- Luster
- Vitreous to waxy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: Tan, beige, or off-white; Luster: Vitreous to waxy; Texture: Granular/sugary; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, often within mountain-building belts. This specific smooth shape is the result of water erosion in a fluvial environment.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as construction aggregate, decorative landscaping stone, and in glass manufacturing if high purity. Polished versions are often used for decorative filler.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so durable that it can survive billions of years through multiple cycles of erosion and redeposition. It is harder than steel and will easily scratch a glass plate.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its hardness (scratches glass), lack of reaction to acid, and its sugary, crystalline texture when broken. Commonly found in riverbeds and glacial deposits globally.
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