metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, granular texture, vitreous luster, and typically white, gray, or yellowish-brown due to iron oxide impurities.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, granular texture, vitreous luster, and typically white, gray, or yellowish-brown due to iron oxide impurities.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, often occurring in mountain-building belts.
Uses & applications
Used widely in construction, railroad ballast, dimension stone, and as a decorative aggregate.
Geological facts
Quartzite is exceptionally durable and weather-resistant, frequently forming prominent mountain ridges because it erodes much slower than surrounding rocks.
Field identification & locations
Identify by its inability to be scratched by steel and its fused quartz grains that break across rather than around the grains. Common worldwide.
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