metamorphic
Quartzite with Milky Quartz Vein
Metamorphosed Quartz-rich Rock (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Gray and milky white, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Quartzite with Milky Quartz Vein in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Gray and milky white, Luster: Vitreous to dull, Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline), Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture)
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure, often during mountain-building events. The white vein suggests secondary quartz precipitation in a fracture.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as road ballast, gravel, and dimension stone; also used in glass manufacturing and as a source of silica.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so tough that it often outlasts the surrounding rock, forming prominent ridges and peaks in mountain ranges.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its extreme hardness (cannot be scratched by steel) and sandy, granular texture that looks like fused sugar crystals. Commonly found in metamorphic belts worldwide.
More like this
