metamorphic
Quartzite
Metamorphic Quartzite
AI-generated identification · may be incorrectHardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to pink, red, and yellow due to iron impurities. Exhibits a vitreous to greasy luster with a non-foliated, massive crystal structure.
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Physical properties
Hardness of 7 on the Mohs scale. Colors range from white and gray to pink, red, and yellow due to iron impurities. Exhibits a vitreous to greasy luster with a non-foliated, massive crystal structure.
Formation & geological history
Formed when quartz-rich sandstone or chert is subjected to high heat and pressure, typically during tectonic mountain-building events.
Uses & applications
Used extensively in construction as crushed stone for road bases, railway ballast, and in manufacturing refractory bricks and ferrosilicon.
Geological facts
Quartzite is extremely durable and resistant to chemical weathering, which is why ridges formed of quartzite often persist as high mountain crests.
Field identification & locations
Identified by its inability to be scratched by a steel knife and its tendency to fracture across quartz grains rather than around them. Found globally in ancient metamorphic terranes.
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