metamorphic
Quartzite with Iron Staining
Metamorphosed Quartz Sandstone (SiO2 with Fe2O3 trace)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to tan with orange/brown rusty staining; Luster: vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: granular/crystalline; Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture).
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- white to tan with orange/brown rusty staining
- Luster
- vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: white to tan with orange/brown rusty staining; Luster: vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: granular/crystalline; Cleavage: none (conchoidal fracture).
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure, often in orogenic belts. The orange staining comes from the oxidation of iron-bearing minerals during secondary weathering.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone in landscaping, road ballast, and crushed stone for construction; higher purity versions are used in glass making.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it usually breaks through the quartz grains rather than along their boundaries, unlike sandstone. It is one of the most durable materials on Earth's surface.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its coarse, crystalline texture. Commonly found in mountain ranges and glacial deposits.
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