metamorphic
Quartzite with Mafic Inclusions
Metamorphic Quartzite
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: yellowish-orange with dark grey to black patches; Luster: vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: massive to interlocking quartz grains; Cleavage: none, breaks across grains.
- Hardness
- 7 on the Mohs scale
- Color
- yellowish-orange with dark grey to black patches
- Luster
- vitreous to greasy
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Quartzite with Mafic Inclusions in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale; Color: yellowish-orange with dark grey to black patches; Luster: vitreous to greasy; Crystal structure: massive to interlocking quartz grains; Cleavage: none, breaks across grains.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert that has been subjected to heat and pressure through regional or contact metamorphism, fusing the quartz grains together.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as crushed stone for roads, railway ballast, and occasionally as decorative stone or in landscaping.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often remain as prominent hills or mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its high hardness (scratches glass easily), lack of effervescence with acid, and the sugary or interlocking crystalline texture on fractured surfaces.
More like this
