metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically pink, white, gray, or reddish due to iron oxide impurities, vitreous to greasy luster, massive to granular crystal structure, no good cleavage, and a specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically pink, white, gray, or reddish due to iron oxide impurities, vitreous to greasy luster, massive to granular crystal structure, no good cleavage, and a specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and tectonic pressure, typically in mountain-building events over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as crushed stone for road bases, in manufacturing glass, and occasionally for decorative landscaping or countertops.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why mountains made of quartzite often form the highest ridges in a region.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its high hardness (scratches glass easily) and the fact that it breaks through the quartz grains rather than around them, unlike sandstone.
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