metamorphic
Quartzite with Quartz Veins
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; colors range from brown, tan, and reddish-brown due to iron oxide staining, with white quartz fracture fillings; vitreous to dull luster; non-foliated massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale; colors range from brown, tan, and reddish-brown due to iron oxide staining, with white quartz fracture fillings; vitreous to dull luster; non-foliated massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert that has been subjected to heat and pressure (metamorphism), often during tectonic mountain-building events over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used primarily as decorative landscape stone, road aggregate, construction material, and occasionally in dimension stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why quartz-rich rocks often survive as rounded pebbles and cobbles in riverbeds and beaches long after other rocks have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified by its extreme hardness (scratches glass easily), the lack of effervescence with acid, and the presence of interlocking crystalline grains or contrasting white quartz veins.
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