metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on Mohs scale, typically brown, gray, or white, non-foliated texture, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on Mohs scale, typically brown, gray, or white, non-foliated texture, vitreous luster, conchoidal fracture.
Formation & geological history
Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under intense heat and pressure, often dating from the Precambrian to Cenozoic eras.
Uses & applications
Used in construction, as crushed stone for road bases, in making railroad ballast, and occasionally as decorative stone.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why parent sandstones survive as mountain ridges.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its refusal to fizz with hydrochloric acid; found globally in mountainous and ancient craton regions.
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