metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Rock (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from white and gray to pink or yellow due to iron oxide impurities, vitreous to greasy luster, massive to granular crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity around 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from white and gray to pink or yellow due to iron oxide impurities, vitreous to greasy luster, massive to granular crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, typically in tectonic mountain-building events.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as crushed stone for roads, dimension stone, roofing granules, and sometimes in manufacturing refractory bricks.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often persist as prominent mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hard, sugary-textured fractured surface where quartz crystals break through rather than around the grains. Found worldwide in ancient mountain belts.
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