metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown, pink, or white in color, with a vitreous to greasy luster and a non-foliated, granular crystal structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown, pink, or white in color, with a vitreous to greasy luster and a non-foliated, granular crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and tectonic pressure, commonly occurring across various geological time scales.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction for road aggregates, railway ballast, and dimension stone, as well as in manufacturing metallurgical fluxes.
Geological facts
Quartzite is exceptionally resistant to weathering and erosion, often forming prominent ridges and mountain peaks.
Field identification & locations
Identified easily in the field by its inability to be scratched by a knife and its sugary, interlocking quartz grain texture; found globally in ancient mountain belts.
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