metamorphic

Quartzite

Metamorphic Quartzite (SiO2)

AI-generated identification · may be incorrect

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, granular texture, typically white, gray, or reddish-brown due to iron oxides, vitreous to greasy luster, conchoidal fracture.

Identified August 7, 2026More metamorphic →

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Physical properties

Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale, granular texture, typically white, gray, or reddish-brown due to iron oxides, vitreous to greasy luster, conchoidal fracture.

Formation & geological history

Formed through the metamorphism of quartz-rich sandstone under high temperature and pressure conditions, often in mountain-building orogenic belts.

Uses & applications

Used in construction, as crushed stone for roadbeds, in manufacturing refractory bricks, and occasionally as an ornamental decorative stone.

Geological facts

Pure quartzite is one of the most chemically inert and physically durable rocks on Earth, making it extremely resistant to weathering and erosion.

Field identification & locations

Can be identified in the field by its sugary texture, inability to be scratched by a steel knife, and the way it breaks across the quartz grains rather than around them.