metamorphic
Quartzite
Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness: 7, Color: Reddish/orange/brown (due to iron oxide impurities), Luster: Vitreous to granular, Crystal structure: Massive (interlocking quartz grains), Cleavage: None (fractures conchoidally to uneven), Specific gravity: 2.64-2.69. The specimen appears water-worn and polished.
Identified More metamorphic →
Explore Quartzite in the encyclopedia →Identify your own rocks.
Get a report just like this from any photo, free.
Physical properties
Hardness: 7, Color: Reddish/orange/brown (due to iron oxide impurities), Luster: Vitreous to granular, Crystal structure: Massive (interlocking quartz grains), Cleavage: None (fractures conchoidally to uneven), Specific gravity: 2.64-2.69. The specimen appears water-worn and polished.
Formation & geological history
Formed by regional or contact metamorphism of quartz sandstone. The original quartz sand grains and cement fuse together into an interlocking mosaic of quartz crystals. Found in metamorphic belts worldwide.
Uses & applications
Used in construction for flooring, wall cladding, and roofing. Also used as railroad ballast, in the production of silica for glass and ceramics, and occasionally cut for jewelry or as decorative stones.
Geological facts
The reddish color in this specimen is likely due to the presence of hematite or other iron oxides acting as a cement or impurity during formation or metamorphism.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its granular texture, hardness (cannot be scratched by steel), and lack of effervescence with acid. Common in riverbeds and glacial deposits where it has been rounded by water transport.
More like this
