metamorphic
Quartzite with Quartz Veins
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from grey to pinkish-brown, vitreous to greasy luster, massive to granular crystal structure, no good cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from grey to pinkish-brown, vitreous to greasy luster, massive to granular crystal structure, no good cleavage, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert under high temperature and pressure metamorphism, often billions of years old.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, railroad ballast, decorative aggregates, and occasionally as a gemstone or ornamental stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why quartz-rich rocks often survive as pebbles in rivers long after other rock types have eroded away.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its hardness (scratches glass easily) and the fused quartz grains that break across the grains rather than around them. Common worldwide in ancient mountain belts.
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