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 reddish-brown due to iron impurities.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and typically white, gray, or reddish-brown due to iron impurities.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz sandstone under intense heat and pressure deep within the Earth's crust.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction, railway ballast, manufacturing of silica bricks, and as decorative dimension stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, often forming the jagged peaks of high mountain ridges.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its inability to be scratched by steel and its refusal to effervesce with hydrochloric acid; found globally in ancient mountain belts.
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