metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to pink, green, and yellow due to iron oxide impurities. It exhibits a vitreous to greasy luster and a non-foliated, granular crystal structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to pink, green, and yellow due to iron oxide impurities. It exhibits a vitreous to greasy luster and a non-foliated, granular crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert under intense heat and tectonic pressure during regional metamorphism, often over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Widely used in construction as crushed stone for roadbeds, railway ballast, dimension stone, and in manufacturing metallurgical silica and decorative tiles.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to chemical weathering and erosion, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often persist as high mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its sugary texture on fractured surfaces and the fact that it will scratch glass and cannot be scratched by a knife blade.
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