metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Rock, SiO2
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or reddish-brown with a vitreous to greasy luster and a non-foliated crystalline structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically white, gray, or reddish-brown with a vitreous to greasy luster and a non-foliated crystalline structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed under high heat and pressure from quartz-rich sandstone during regional or contact metamorphism, often over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, railroad ballast, decorative aggregates, and manufacturing silicon or ferrosilicon.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to weathering and erosion, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often remain as prominent hills.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its fused quartz grains that break across, rather than around, the grains.
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