metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors range from white and gray to pink and yellow, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, colors range from white and gray to pink and yellow, vitreous to greasy luster, massive crystal structure with interlocking quartz grains, conchoidal fracture, specific gravity of 2.65.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone or chert under high temperatures and pressures, typically occurring during tectonic mountain-building events.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction, as crushed stone for road bases, as a decorative building stone, in manufacturing glass, and occasionally as a gemstone or in countertops.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often remain as prominent hills or mountain crests after surrounding rocks erode.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its high hardness (scratches glass easily), lack of effervescence with acid, and the visible fused quartz grains that fracture across grains rather than around them.
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