metamorphic
Quartzite with Iron Staining
Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on Mohs scale. Colors vary widely, often gray, white, or pinkish due to iron impurities. Exhibits a grainy surface and vitreous to dull luster. No cleavage.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale. Colors vary widely, often gray, white, or pinkish due to iron impurities. Exhibits a grainy surface and vitreous to dull luster. No cleavage.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone subjected to high heat and pressure during metamorphism. It is often found in areas of past mountain building.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as decorative stone, for making glass, and sometimes in landscaping as river rock.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that when it breaks, it fractures through the quartz grains rather than around them, unlike its parent rock sandstone.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass), sugary or grainy texture, and conchoidal fracture. Often found as rounded pebbles in rivers and beaches due to its resistance to weathering.
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