metamorphic
Quartzite with Hematite staining
Metamorphosed Sandstone (SiO2 with Fe2O3 inclusions)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to light grey with reddish-pink veining; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Grainy texture with no visible cleavage.
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- white to light grey with reddish-pink veining
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
Identified More metamorphic →
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to light grey with reddish-pink veining; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Hexagonal (trigonal); Grainy texture with no visible cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone. High heat and pressure fused quartz grains together. Red staining is caused by iron oxide (hematite) infiltration through micro-fractures.
Uses & applications
Commonly used as crushed stone in construction, road ballast, or as decorative landscaping stones and garden pebbles.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often survives intense glacial movements and river transport better than the surrounding bedrock, resulting in smooth, rounded cobbles like this specimen.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel and its lack of reaction to acid (unlike marble). Common in mountainous regions or riverbeds downstream from metamorphic belts.
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