metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to pink or yellow due to iron oxide impurities. It has a vitreous to greasy luster and a non-foliated, granular crystal structure.
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 of 7 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to pink or yellow due to iron oxide impurities. It has a vitreous to greasy luster and a non-foliated, granular crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed from the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and tectonic pressure, typically in mountain-building belts.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction, as crushed stone for roadbeds, in manufacturing railroad ballast, and occasionally as decorative dimension stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely resistant to weathering and erosion, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often remain as prominent hills or mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Can be identified in the field by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its tendency to fracture across quartz grains rather than around them. Found globally.
More like this
