metamorphic
Quartzite with Dendritic Manganese Oxide Inclusions
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2 with Mn-oxides)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: light grey to whitish with dark branching dendritic patterns; Luster: vitreous to sugary/earthy; Crystal structure: trigonal (microcrystalline interlocked quartz); Cleavage: none; Specific gravity: ~2.65.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- light grey to whitish with dark branching dendritic patterns
- Luster
- vitreous to sugary/earthy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: light grey to whitish with dark branching dendritic patterns; Luster: vitreous to sugary/earthy; Crystal structure: trigonal (microcrystalline interlocked quartz); Cleavage: none; Specific gravity: ~2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz-rich sandstone undergoes intense heat and pressure (metamorphism), recrystallizing quartz grains. The dark tree-like patterns (dendrites) formed later when manganese- or iron-rich mineral fluids seeped into micro-fractures in the rock.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, decorative stones, stone tools, landscaping, and as mineral specimens for collectors.
Geological facts
Dendrites are often mistaken for fossilized plants or ferns due to their branching structure, but they are purely inorganic mineral crystallizations.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its extreme hardness (scratches glass easily), sugary crystalline texture, and distinct tree-like mineral patterns along fracture planes. Commonly found in metamorphic mountain belts globally.
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