metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Rock (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and typically white, gray, or pinkish with visible quartz grain interlocking structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and typically white, gray, or pinkish with visible quartz grain interlocking structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the thermal or regional metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used in construction as crushed stone for roadbeds, railway ballast, and dimension stone, as well as in the manufacture of silica brick and ferro-silicon.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to chemical weathering and erosion, which is why ancient mountain ranges often weather into peaks of pure quartzite.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by a knife and the way it fractures across individual quartz grains rather than around them.
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