metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Sandstone
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous to greasy luster, conchoidal fracture, and colors ranging from white to gray, pink, or brown.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous to greasy luster, conchoidal fracture, and colors ranging from white to gray, pink, or brown.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, commonly in mountain-building belts.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction as crushed stone, railroad ballast, and decorative facing stone, as well as in manufacturing refractories.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often form prominent hills or mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel and the way it breaks across individual quartz grains rather than around them.
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