metamorphic
Quartzite with Hematite staining
Metamorphic Quartz (SiO2) with Ferric Oxides
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Light tan to rusty orange/brown, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Structure: Granular/crystalline, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Light tan to rusty orange/brown, Luster: Vitreous to greasy, Structure: Granular/crystalline, Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure, typically during mountain-building events. The orange-yellow tint is caused by secondary staining from iron-bearing minerals like limonite or hematite.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as road ballast, gravel, or high-end stones for flooring and countertops. Pure quartzite is used to produce glass and silicon.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it frequently forms ridges and resistant hilltops because it weathers much more slowly than the surrounding rocks.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its tendency to break across sand grains rather than around them. Found globally in ancient tectonic belts and mountain ranges.
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