metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartz Arenite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and compact granular crystal structure with colors ranging from white to yellowish-brown.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture, and compact granular crystal structure with colors ranging from white to yellowish-brown.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the thermal metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and tectonic pressure, typically during mountain-building events.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction as crushed stone for roadbeds, railway ballast, and dimension stone, as well as in manufacturing refractories and silica brick.
Geological facts
Quartzite is exceptionally resistant to weathering, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often persist as prominent mountain crests over geological timescales.
Field identification & locations
Identify in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel blade and the way fractures cut directly through individual quartz grains rather than around them.
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