metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Arenite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness 7 on Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or pinkish with a vitreous to greasy luster. Massive interlocking crystalline structure with no distinct cleavage and a specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness 7 on Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or pinkish with a vitreous to greasy luster. Massive interlocking crystalline structure with no distinct 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, often dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used primarily in construction for crushed stone, railroad ballast, dimension stone, and occasionally in industrial manufacturing of silica refractories.
Geological facts
Quartzite is exceptionally resistant to weathering and erosion, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often persist as prominent mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its tendency to fracture across quartz grains rather than around them. Found globally in ancient mountain belts.
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