metamorphic
Quartzite
Quartzite
Hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock, primarily composed of quartz. Color is variable, often white to pale gray, but can be brownish or reddish due to impurities. Mohs hardness of 7. It breaks with a conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hard, non-foliated metamorphic rock, primarily composed of quartz. Color is variable, often white to pale gray, but can be brownish or reddish due to impurities. Mohs hardness of 7. It breaks with a conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of pure quartz sandstone through heating and pressure, usually related to tectonic compression within orogenic belts.
Uses & applications
Used as a decorative building stone, in crushed stone, and as a source of silica for metallurgical processes and the manufacture of silica brick.
Geological facts
Quartzite is so strong that it often breaks through the quartz grains rather than along the boundaries between them.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its sugary texture and hardness. Found in folded mountain ranges worldwide.
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