sedimentary
Quartzite Sandstone / Quartz Sandstone
Quartz Sandstone (SiO2 with minor mineral impurities)
Hardness 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous to sugary luster, medium-grained sand-sized clastic texture, yellow-brown to dark brownish grey color, highly durable with interlocking or cemented quartz grains.
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Physical properties
Hardness 6.5 to 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous to sugary luster, medium-grained sand-sized clastic texture, yellow-brown to dark brownish grey color, highly durable with interlocking or cemented quartz grains.
Formation & geological history
Formed by the accumulation, compaction, and cementation of quartz-rich sand grains in ancient river, beach, or desert environments. Over time, silica-rich solutions cement the grains together.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as aggregate, for building stone, and occasionally studied in geology classes as a classic clastic sedimentary specimen.
Geological facts
Quartz-rich sandstones are extremely resistant to weathering, which allows them to form prominent ridges, cliffs, and resistant rock outcrops worldwide.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its grainy, sandpaper-like feel, visible sand-sized quartz grains that glitter in light, and high hardness (scratches glass). Commonly found in stream beds, beaches, and sedimentary rock formations worldwide.
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