metamorphic
Quartzite with Iron inclusions
Quartzite (SiO2 with Fe2O3 trace impurities)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray matrix with pink/red staining; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Granitoid/Non-foliated; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Gray matrix with pink/red staining
- Luster
- Dull to vitreous
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray matrix with pink/red staining; Luster: Dull to vitreous; Structure: Granitoid/Non-foliated; Cleavage: None/Conchoidal fracture
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. The pink coloration is often due to iron oxide staining or secondary mineralization in fractures.
Uses & applications
Primarily used as construction aggregate, railway ballast, and occasionally as decorative stone or in landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding rocks in mountainous terrain; it breaks across individual grains rather than around them.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and its granular, crystalline appearance that sparkles slightly under light. Common in metamorphic belts worldwide.
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