metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, color ranges from white and gray to pink, yellow, or brown, vitreous to greasy luster, microcrystalline to massive 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, yellow, or brown, vitreous to greasy luster, microcrystalline to massive crystal structure, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity around 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed from quartz-rich sandstone or chert under high temperatures and tectonic pressures during regional or contact metamorphism.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, road aggregate, manufacturing of silica brick, and sometimes as a decorative stone or in countertops.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ridges made of quartzite often form prominent mountain peaks.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its hardness (scratches glass easily) and the fact that it breaks through the quartz grains rather than around them, found worldwide in ancient mountain belts.
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