metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on Mohs scale, white to gray or reddish color, vitreous to greasy luster, non-foliated massive crystal structure, conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, white to gray or reddish color, vitreous to greasy luster, non-foliated massive crystal structure, conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high heat and pressure, often during mountain-building events.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, railroad ballast, dimension stone, manufacturing of silica brick, and sometimes as decorative landscaping or tumbling rough.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often survive as prominent hills.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its inability to be scratched by steel and its failure to effervesce with acid. Common globally and highly plausible in glacial drift of the Midwestern US.
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