metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and typically white, gray, or yellowish-brown due to iron oxide impurities.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and typically white, gray, or yellowish-brown due to iron oxide impurities.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert subjected to intense heat and pressure during tectonic metamorphism.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction, railway ballast, dimension stone, and occasionally as a decorative gemstone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and weather-resistant, often forming prominent mountain ridges because it resists erosion better than surrounding rocks.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and the way it breaks across quartz grains rather than around them.
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