metamorphic

Quartzite with Quartz Veining

Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness 7 on Mohs scale. Color ranges from tan, brown, to whitish quartz veins. Vitreous to dull luster, granoblastic texture, tough and resistant to weathering.

Identified July 24, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Hardness 7 on Mohs scale. Color ranges from tan, brown, to whitish quartz veins. Vitreous to dull luster, granoblastic texture, tough and resistant to weathering.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth's crust, often intersected by hydrothermal quartz veins.

Uses & applications

Used in construction as crushed stone, ballast, and decorative landscaping rock. Sometimes used in rock tumbling.

Geological facts

Quartzite is so hard and durable that when it breaks, it fractures through the individual quartz grains rather than along the boundaries between them.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel blade and its sugary-to-smooth texture. Commonly found in riverbeds, glacial deposits, and mountainous metamorphic terrains.