metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Generally white to gray, but can be pink, yellow, or orange due to iron oxide impurities. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Interlocking quartz crystals. Cleavage: None (breaks across quartz grains rather than around them). Specific gravity: 2.60 - 2.70.
- Hardness
- 7 on the Mohs scale
- Luster
- Vitreous to greasy
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 on the Mohs scale. Color: Generally white to gray, but can be pink, yellow, or orange due to iron oxide impurities. Luster: Vitreous to greasy. Crystal structure: Interlocking quartz crystals. Cleavage: None (breaks across quartz grains rather than around them). Specific gravity: 2.60 - 2.70.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone or chert under high heat and pressure, typically occurring in mountain-building belts.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as crushed stone for road bases, in railway ballast, for manufacturing ferrosilicon, and sometimes as a decorative building stone or for countertops.
Geological facts
Because quartz is extremely resistant to weathering, quartzite hills and ridges often stand out as prominent topographic features in landscapes.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its high hardness (scratches glass easily), the way it fractures across the grains instead of around them, and its granular, sugary texture on fresh breaks. Found worldwide.
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