metamorphic
Quartzite with inclusions
Quartzite (SiO2) with likely Feldspar or Iron oxide inclusions
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Grayish-blue with yellow-tan mottling; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Grayish-blue with yellow-tan mottling
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Grayish-blue with yellow-tan mottling; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal Structure: Trigonal/Hexagonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, typically in orogenic (mountain-building) belts. This specimen appears water-worn, indicating a secondary transport history in a river or beach environment.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as construction aggregate, railway ballast, and decorative stone in landscaping. High-purity quartzite is used to produce glass and silicon metal.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms the peaks of mountain ranges because it weathers much more slowly than 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. Common in metamorphic terrains worldwide.
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