metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic quartz arenite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous to greasy luster, conchoidal fracture, and compact granular crystal structure with variable colors like white, gray, or pink.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, vitreous to greasy luster, conchoidal fracture, and compact granular crystal structure with variable colors like white, gray, or pink.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the thermal and pressure-driven metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone over millions of years.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction, as crushed stone for roads, for decorative aggregates, and occasionally in manufacturing glass and ceramics.
Geological facts
Quartzite is exceptionally resistant to weathering and chemical breakdown, often forming prominent mountain ridges.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its tendency to fracture across quartz grains rather than around them; found worldwide.
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