metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Rock (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown, gray, or white with a vitreous to greasy luster and non-foliated massive crystal structure.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Quartzite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, typically brown, gray, or white with a vitreous to greasy luster and non-foliated massive crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, railway ballast, manufacturing of silica bricks, and occasionally as decorative stone or in lapidary.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, often forming prominent mountain ridges.
Field identification & locations
Identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel and the way it fractures across quartz grains rather than around them.
More like this
