metamorphic
Quartzite
Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Various, often white, gray, pink, or yellowish brown, Luster: Vitreous, Crystal structure: Granular, Cleavage: None, Specific gravity: ~2.6-2.7. This specimen shows distinct banding or bedding planes and has been smoothed/polished, likely by water or tumbling.
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Physical properties
Hardness: 7 (Mohs scale), Color: Various, often white, gray, pink, or yellowish brown, Luster: Vitreous, Crystal structure: Granular, Cleavage: None, Specific gravity: ~2.6-2.7. This specimen shows distinct banding or bedding planes and has been smoothed/polished, likely by water or tumbling.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of pure quartz sandstone under high heat and pressure, causing the quartz grains to recrystallize and interlock.
Uses & applications
Used as decorative stone, crushed stone for road construction, and in roofing, flooring, and wall cladding due to its durability.
Geological facts
Because quartzite is very hard and resistant to weathering, it often forms ridges and hilltops in landscapes.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass) and granular texture where individual grains cannot easily be distinguished. It often has a sugary appearance on broken surfaces. Often found as rounded cobbles in river beds or glacial deposits.
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