metamorphic
Quartzite with Chlorite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2) with phyllosilicates
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, gray, and dull green; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Granoblastic/Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
- Hardness
- 7 (Mohs scale)
- Color
- White, gray, and dull green
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale); Color: White, gray, and dull green; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Granoblastic/Crystalline; Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, typically during mountain-building events. The green tint suggests the presence of chlorite minerals formed during low-grade metamorphism.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as crushed stone for road construction, railroad ballast, and occasionally as decorative landscaping stones or architectural surfacing.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding rock during erosion, frequently forming the peaks of mountain ranges. It is one of the hardest and most chemically resistant rocks on Earth.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its grainy, sandpaper-like texture that has been fused into a solid mass. It will not fizz with acid, unlike marble.
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