metamorphic
Quartzite with Quartz Veining
Quartzite (primarily SiO2)
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, tan, and white; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
- Hardness
- 7 on Mohs scale
- Color
- Gray, tan, and white
- Luster
- Vitreous to dull
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on Mohs scale; Color: Gray, tan, and white; Luster: Vitreous to dull; Crystal structure: Trigonal (microcrystalline); Cleavage: None (conchoidal fracture); Specific Gravity: 2.6-2.7
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure. The white bands are secondary quartz veins formed by hydrothermal fluids filling fractures in the rock.
Uses & applications
Used as crushed stone for road construction, railway ballast, and occasionally as decorative stone or landscaping rock.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so hard and chemically resistant that it often forms the peaks of mountain ranges because it weathers much more slowly than surrounding rocks.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its ability to scratch glass and the lack of reaction to acid. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial tills, and mountainous metamorphic terrains.
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