metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Rock (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and compact granular crystal structure. Colors typically range from white and gray to pink or brown depending on impurities.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and compact granular crystal structure. Colors typically range from white and gray to pink or brown depending on impurities.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and tectonic pressure, commonly developing over millions of years in mountain-building zones.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction as crushed stone for roads, railway ballast, and dimension stone for building facades and countertops.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely weather-resistant, which is why ridges made of quartzite often form prominent resistant hills or mountains in eroded landscapes.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by steel and the way it breaks across the quartz grains rather than around them, distinguishing it from sandstone.
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